RYAN Lowe says the prospect of adding a fourth promotion to his CV convinced him to turn down the offer of a contract extension at Bury and move to Crewe.

The 37-year-old striker was speaking to the club's official website after his switch to the Alexandra Stadium was finally confirmed yesterday.

He has signed a one-year contract with the League Two new boys after deciding not to take up the offer of an "appearance incentivised" deal with the Shakers.

Lowe said: “I’ve had four promotions before and I want another one. I am nearing the end of my career now but I have that hunger to keep on playing and I won’t stop until that hunger goes."

The experienced front man passed the 200 career goals mark near the end of last season in what was his second spell with Bury.

Lowe scored the goal that clinched promotion from League Two for Bury in the 2010/11 season.

After signing for Sheffield Wednesday a few months later, he was part of the Owls squad that won promotion from League One in 2012.

And the popular striker sealed a third promotion after returning to Bury in July 2014, with the Shakers making the step up to League One under manager David Flitcroft in his first season back.

Lowe made 160 appearances for Bury in total, scoring 71 goals, but endured a stop-start campaign last season due to injury.

He played his way back into form during a loan spell with Crewe at the turn of the year and returned to Gigg Lane for the run-in, memorably scoring a brace in a 4-3 victory over Southend in the season finale, including a last-minute winner from the penalty spot.

Crewe, meanwhile, were relegated from League One, and manager Steve Davis made a bee-line for Lowe as he plotted an instant return to the third tier.

“I did have a few options and an offer from Bury but I spoke to Steve and he made it clear he wanted me back here and what we wants from me," said Lowe.

“I could have stayed in League One and potentially not played as many games as I would have liked or been battling against relegation, but I didn’t want that. Crewe wanted me back and I know the ambitions the club have for this season.

“We don’t want to be in League Two and it is our aim to bounce straight back. That is what we all want and we will work hard to achieve that."