Crawley Town Football Club can confirm that assistant coach Darren Byfield will take charge of the team for today’s match against Stevenage and Monday’s game with Newport County. Club co-chairman Preston Johnson will also be in the dugout to show his support to Darren, the staff and the players.
Ahead of the match, club co-chairman Preston Johnson issued the following statement:
“It’s no secret that this season hasn’t gone the way any of us who care about the club had hoped or expected. After a half season of consistently unacceptable results, it has become clear that significant changes are required to set things right, both on and off the pitch. We now have two big opportunities to begin the necessary transformation by appointing a new permanent manager and reshaping our squad in the impending January transfer window. And while achieving the type of reset that our football performance and culture needs is unlikely to occur overnight, the importance of this moment cannot be overstated.
That is why I have opted to fly back to the UK and take a more direct, hands-on role during this crucial period, especially as we remain actively engaged in the recruitment of an experienced and proven manager to guide the club forward. It is imperative that we use these next two games to gather as much information about our current squad as possible to inform our actions in the transfer window. That includes selecting players who have received fewer opportunities in league contests to date, to ensure that our football operations team can properly evaluate them in this setting. I look forward to working collaboratively with Darren and the staff to ensure that we are utilizing this interim period as effectively as possible to set the club up for a productive January and, most importantly, for greater success in the long-term.
I know that many supporters are disappointed and angry about the current state of the club. I hear you, and I share your frustration and take responsibility for that. Crawley fans deserve a team and a club that makes them proud on the pitch and in the community — and I remain deeply committed to ensuring we live up to that responsibility.”
