Crawley Town

Crawley release non-contract pair
Crawley Town have released reserve goalkeeper Josh Clapham and central defender Rob Bartley. The pair had both joined the Red Devils on non-contract terms in August, but neither had featured in the league. Their only first-team outings came in a Sussex Senior Cup second round tie against East Preston last month. Bartley had agreed his release last week, while former Plymouth stopper Clapham will now be following him through the exit door.

Crawley boss rues missed chances
Crawley Town manager Steve Evans felt his side only had themselves to blame for failing to beat York City. Town were held 1-1 after wasting a host of chances and Evans said: "We should have been 3-0 up and even missed a good chance just a minute after scoring. "We have come away from home and produced an outstanding display and we are disappointed that we gave a sloppy goal away." The draw leaves Town 14th in the Blue Square Premier table.

Crawley boss Evans praises Cook
Crawley Town manager Steve Evans hailed midfielder Jamie Cook after his two goals sunk former club Oxford United. Cook scored a stunning lob and a penalty as his side won 2-0 and Evans believes the 28-year-old could still be playing in the Football League. Evans told the Argus: "His first goal was worthy of any level and I've always said he could play in the Championship. "He has played there with Oxford in his early days as a teenager and he could be playing at that level now."

Watson ties up switch to Crawley
Crawley Town have completed the permanent signing of on-loan Rushden & Diamonds defender Paul Watson. Watson, who turned 33 on Friday, has made seven appearances for Crawley since joining them on loan in October. He joined Rushden in the summer of 2006, but had not featured for their first team since September. Born in Hastings, Watson played over 200 games for Brighton and has also served Gillingham, Fulham, Brentford, Coventry City and Woking.

Crawley extend loans of Dons pair
Crawley Town are keeping MK Dons duo Kieran Murphy and Mustapha Carayol on loan for the rest of this season. Irish under-21 defender Murphy and winger Carayol had initially arrived on a month long deals, with Carayol scoring on his debut against Aldershot. The pair both featured for Milton Keynes earlier this season before coming to the Broadfield Stadium. Crawley manager Steve Evans said: "We are pleased with both players and they give us several options."

Stevens handed trial by Ipswich
Teenage Crawley defender Jamie Stevens has been handed a three-day trial by Championship promotion-chasers Ipswich. The 18-year-old only joined the Reds in the summer after leaving relegated Boston United to link up again with his former manager Steve Evans. Crawley have described interest in Stevens during this month's transfer window as "intense". The centre-back has scored twice in 27 Blue Square Premier appearances for the club this season.

Raynor defends weekend dismissals
Crawley assistant boss Paul Raynor said he and manager Steve Evans are not concerned about being sent to the stands twice over Easter. Raynor and Evans repeated Saturday's dismissals at Burton by being banished yet again in the 1-0 defeat to Aldershot on Monday. "It's ridiculous, it really is," Raynor told SSB. "Maybe there's a directive to clamp down on people shouting onto the field, and showing a bit of passion." It is the sixth time this season that Evans has been sent to the stands. Raynor added: "The Crawley fans would have been pleased with the performance and the Aldershot fans would have been thrilled with the result. "It's a shame we have to talk about referees and people in stands".

Crawley purchased by new owners
Crawley Town have issued a statement stating that owners the SA Group have sold their controlling interest. The buyers are Boston based company Prospect Estates Holdings Limited and the Reds former owner John Duly. Club chairman Vic Marley said: "The newly formed board offer local business men who have a real desire to take this football club forward." The club is expected to unveil more details about the new owners and plans for the future in the next week.

Raynor left to rue missed chances
Crawley assistant manager Paul Raynor blamed poor finishing for his side's 1-1 draw with Weymouth. Raynor told SSB: "We dominated the game for 90 minutes and our goalkeeper, Ashley Bayes, has not had a save to make. "We've created some extremely good chances where we were one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but unfortunately it was a day where we didn't take them. "We can't expect to beat teams every week, but we should have won."

Crawley keep eight but Bayes goes
Crawley have signed up eight of their squad for next season, although keeper Ashley Bayes has refused a new deal. Jamie Cook, Jon-Paul Pitman, Dannie Bulman, Tyrone Thompson, Thomas Pinault, Glenn Wilson, Jamie Stevens and Bradley Thomas have agreed terms. However veteran Bayes looks set to move to Stevenage Borough. Manager Steve Evans told the club website: "We have retained some real quality players - who I can assure you have been sought after."

Crawley boss given suspended ban
Crawley Town manager Steve Evans has been given a two-month ban from all involvement in football, suspended for a year. It follows a Football Association hearing where he admitted to four different charges of improper conduct. The two-month ban will be applied if Evans is found to be in breach of FA rules in a similar way again. Evans told SSB: "There is dramatic room for improvement. It has to change me." He added: "I'll change for the better and we'll have a football club that supporters can be proud of." Evans was found guilty of breaching FA rule E3 - which relates to violent or improper conduct, bringing the game into disrepute or using abusive language. He had already been given a four-game touchline ban to start off the new season.

Crawley eager to make loan moves
Crawley manager Steve Evans says the Reds are in talks with two Championship clubs about bringing in loan signings. Manager Evans has targeted signings to add to the squad from both Watford and Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace. He told the club's website: "I have been speaking to Neil Warnock about two players in particular and he is thinking it through." The Reds have signed goalkeeper Nicky Morgan, who was with Braintree last season, after a trial spell.

Crawley capture midfielder Dayton
Crawley have signed Crystal Palace midfielder James Dayton on a month's loan, in time for the player to make his debut against Salisbury City. The 19-year-old has already had a spell at Yeovil earlier this season. Reds manager Steve Evans told Southern Counties Radio: "He's a player we have been looking at for a few weeks. He will excite our supporters. "He is very highly thought of at Selhurst Park. He can play in either wide area or in the middle."

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