re: relegation v re-election
The Alex's history would have looked very different without re-election, that's for sure. Is Dario even tempted to come to Crewe and start an academy if we're not in the Football League? Who knows. Maybe we act as a yo-yo of the league. Maybe we go bankrupt. Maybe we get the much coveted, but often maligned, "sugar daddy."
The truth is that lower league clubs go through all the same problems we do, even if they don't have an academy. It's how each club overcomes those difficulties that defines them. The "Crewe" way has worked well so far and I don't see a mass exodus of academy kids leaving before signing pro-deals any time soon.
re: relegation v re-election
One of the main reasons that we kept on being re-elected was that we owned our ground (not many other teams did in the 70's) and we were in a better finacial position that most other teams. So some things are the same from then. ;D
re: relegation v re-election
Plus we were easy and cheaper to get to than Barrow or Workington for example