Crawley Town

Wimbledon sign Crawley goalkeeper
Crawley Town goalkeeper Andy Little has joined Ryman Premier Division newcomers AFC Wimbledon. Little ends a five-year stay with the Red Devils after playing seven Conference games for Francis Vines's side last season. He has agreed a 12-month deal with the Ryman First Division champions. "I've had my eye on Andy for a while. With his experience he will be good for us," Dons manager Dave Anderson told his club's website. "Once again we've signed a player who has had to drop a level to play for us."

Conference increases loan quotas
The Conference has increased the number of loan players clubs can use next season after the enforced introduction of the transfer window system. Clubs can register four short-term and four long-term loan players and can play five loan players in a game. Clubs can also sign a keeper for a minimum period of seven days outside the transfer window if they do not have a registered keeper available. The changes are being brought in to soften the blow of the transfer window.

Robinson extends stay at Crawley
Crawley Town midfielder John Robinson has signed a new one-year contract. The former Wales international, 33, was signed by boss Francis Vines in February last season as the Reds pushed for the Conference play-offs. Vines explained: "He hadn't played for a couple of months - by the time he had a chance, he was suspended and then the season finished. "With a good pre-season, he'll be raring to go," Vines told BBC Southern Counties Radio. Crawley have also completed the signing of Richard Hodgson, after international clearance was finally granted. The former Darlington, Cambridge and Stevenage winger had been playing in Malaysia.

Conference LDV entrants confirmed
The Football League has confirmed the 12 Conference teams that will take part in this season's LDV Vans Trophy. Relegated pair Kidderminster and Cambridge are joined by the teams who finished 12th or higher in last season's Conference National table. The other invited sides are Accrington, Aldershot, Crawley, Dagenham & Redbridge, Exeter, Halifax, Hereford, Morecambe, Stevenage and Woking. The first round will take place in the week commencing 17 October.

Conference fixtures are announced
Cambridge United's first Conference game, following their relegation from the Football League, will be away at Forest Green Rovers on 13 August. Meanwhile, Kidderminster Harriers start life outside the League with a home game against Woking. Conference newcomers Altrincham, Grays and Southport have all been handed ties away from home on the opening day. Grays visit Burton Albion, Southport travel to Dagenham & Redbridge while Altrincham go to Stevenage Borough. All the Conference fixtures As is customary, Boxing Day features a number of "derbies" - such as York v Scarborough - with the return fixtures on 2 January. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nationwide Conference opening day fixtures (Saturday, 13 August): Accrington Stanley v Canvey Island Aldershot Town v Tamworth Burton Albion v Grays Athletic Dagenham & Redbridge v Southport Forest Green Rovers v Cambridge United Gravesend & Northfleet v Exeter City Hereford United v Scarborough Kidderminster Harriers v Woking Morecambe v Halifax Town Stevenage Borough v Altrincham York City v Crawley Town Tuesday, 16 August Altrincham v Accrington Stanley Cambridge United v Hereford United Canvey Island v Aldershot Town Crawley Town v Dagenham & Redbridge Exeter City v Kidderminster Harriers Grays Athletic v Gravesend & Northfleet Halifax Town v Burton Albion Scarborough v Morecambe Southport v York City Tamworth v Forest Green Rovers Woking v Stevenage Borough

Keeper Smith staying with Crawley
Crawley keeper Phil Smith has agreed a new deal at the Broadfield Stadium. The 25-year-old has penned a two-year contract to boost Crawley's preparations for their second Conference campaign. Smith, who joined the Red Devils from Margate last summer, established himself as Francis Vines' first-choice keeper last season, starting 35 games. His decision to stay on at Crawley softens the blow of Andy Little's recent departure to AFC Wimbledon.

Crawley Town 0-0 Dag & Red
Crawley produced their second goalless draw in four days after a game of few chances with Dagenham & Redbridge. It was 32 minutes before the game produced the first shot at goal, Crawley's Neil Jenkins driving an effort wide. Craig Mackail-Smith responded at the other end for the Daggers with a shot which Phil Smith saved. Chris Moore had the best chance of the second half but he sent his shot straight at Smith. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crawley Town: Smith, Judge, Simpemba, Woozley, Jenkins, Elam, Wormull, Blackburn, Hodgson, Cade (Ekoku 57), Steve Burton. Subs Not Used: Ward, Opinel, Armstrong, Douglas. Booked: Simpemba. Dag & Red: Roberts, Goodwin, Griffiths, Leberl, Southam, Uddin, Blackett (Vickers 65), Foster , Bruce, Moore (Benson 80), Mackail-Smith. Subs Not Used: Overland, Fowler, Kandol. Booked: Vickers, Benson. Att: 1,734. Ref: G Scott (England).

Hamstring blow for Crawley winger
Crawley winger Lee Elam is facing a spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury in Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Hereford. "Lee has a tight hamstring - he may have just torn a few fibres," boss Francis Vines told the club website. "I don't think it's a serious tear, or he wouldn't have been able to walk off. We think he might be out for seven to 10 days." Elam is now a doubt for next Saturday's game against his former club Morecambe. Meanwhile, the Red Devils also hope to have striker Danny Ekoku available for that game. Ekoku missed the Hereford game after it emerged that he had never been deregistered from Bradford City's youth academy when he was released by the Bantams. "There is no problems with Danny's Conference registration, and we expect it all to be sorted in time for next week," director of football Steve Duly said.

Clare deal thrills Crawley boss
Crawley Town beat the transfer deadline to sign Boston striker Daryl Clare for an undisclosed five-figure fee which is a club record for the Reds. Clare, 27, was in his second spell at Boston but has signed a two-year deal. "Daryl is a proven goalscorer at Conference level, and I can't put into words how happy I am to sign him," boss Francis Vines told Crawley's website. "Not only will he bring experience to the squad, but I am sure that our younger strikers will learn from him." Clare has won the Conference title twice - with Boston in 2002 and Chester in 2004.

Mullery is handed role by Crawley
Former England international Alan Mullery has joined Conference club Crawley Town in a consultancy capacity. Mullery, 63, who has managed Crawley's neighbours Brighton, will attend matches, training and perform scouting duties to help out boss Francis Vines. "Alan is not taking anyone's job. He is not a replacement to Francis Vines," Crawley's general manager Paul Hobbs told the Crawley Observer. "He is a consultant brought in to help bring the club up to a higher level." Mullery, who captained Tottenham after starting his playing career with Fulham, was capped 35 times in England's midfield. After retiring as a player he managed Brighton, leading them up to Division One during his first spell in 1979, Charlton, Crystal Palace, QPR and Barnet.

Ekoku leaves Crawley in loan move
Crawley Town striker Danny Ekoku has joined Conference South side Sutton United on a month's loan. Ekoku, 19, has made six appearances for the Red Devils, without scoring, since joining from Bradford in the summer. He was also a pre-season target for York, but has had limited opportunities since Daryl Clare's arrival. Ekoku, whose uncle Efan started out at Sutton in the late 1980s before moving into the League, has been allowed to play for the U's in the FA Cup.

Vines sounds success warning note
Crawley boss Francis Vines admits Conference success may not happen overnight for his Red Devils. A switch to full-time football and new owners injecting funds marked Crawley as potential non-league heavyweights. But after waiting seven games for their first win, Vines is forced to take a longer term view. Vines told Sir Stanley: "When people pump money in, they want to see results immediately. But every other team wants the same thing." The Crawley boss added: "After doing what we did and going full-time a couple of days after the start of the season we must make sure we survive this year. "Then if we can do that we can look to go from strength to strength next season and maybe be a top-10 side. "It would be great to be a top-10 team now, and we could be. But that's us and 20 others. We have to make sure we survive first and go on from there." The speed of change at the Broadfield Stadium inevitably led to teething problems on and off the field. Assistant manager Dave Swindlehurst lost his job, players have come and gone and Vines himself had to make the tough decision to give up his job as a postman to become a full-time manager. "It is all-consuming, especially with the way things have gone," he said. "If we had been going great guns with things going well you don't think about it. "But when you are fighting to get a few results it is all-consuming. You think about it in your sleep and wake up kicking footballs. "Most of our boys have been professionals before. But when you have been out of it for a year or sometimes two it does take time to get it back together. "But that does not make up for the mistakes that have been costing us goals, and there are no excuses for that. If we can cut out the individual errors then results will pick up." Seven points from the last three games suggests that may be happening and Vines, who led Crawley to 12th place last season in their first Conference campaign, may soon be sleeping sounder. "We have got some great players and we have to make sure we knit them into a good side," he added. Among them is Daryl Clare, the club's recent record signing who has twice previously won the Conference's golden boot with past champions Boston and Chester. Three goals in his first eight games suggests there is more to come from Clare and despite his realistic approach, Vines has not written off the prospect of a charge up the league. He said: "We are two points off the bottom, and nine off fifth place. "It's very close from top to bottom and it's not unthinkable that the teams at the bottom, including Tamworth and Aldershot, could end up at the top. It's not impossible."

Hollins protecting striker Clare
Crawley boss John Hollins feels he had no option but to rest Daryl Clare ahead of the tough festive programme. The striker missed Saturday's FA trophy win at Stevenage with a back injury but Crawley still ran out 2-0 winners. "I would prefer for Daryl to miss one game and the go on to play 20," Hollins told Sir Stanley. "I know he wants to play every game but I had to rest him because I cannot afford to play him half fit. You're either fully fit or you cannot play."

Fleet capture Cottagers defender
Gravesend & Northfleet boss Liam Daish has signed Fulham defender Robert Watkins on loan. The 20-year-old, who had a five-game loan spell at Crawley last season, could make his debut in Tuesday's local derby against Grays Athletic. Meanwhile, Fleet defender Ross Smith has signed a contract extension until the end of the 2006/07 season. "It is all I can do to get him off the training pitch - he'd train all day if he could," Daish told the club website. "I am very pleased that he has decided to commit another season to us."

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