Crawley Town are using the international break to push ahead with stadium improvements and get key players back to fitness. Chief executive Tom Allman detailed the off-field work and squad situation as the League Two side prepares for their return to action.
With three players away on international duty, the club's League Two match against Walsall was postponed. The break has provided a window for planned upgrades at Broadfield Stadium that would normally wait for the summer. "We have plans to upgrade the floodlights across the coming weeks," Allman said. "This should have a noticeable difference on match-days for LUX levels, whilst also being more eco friendly than our current set up."
Work on the hospitality areas is also in its final stages, with a planned relaunch for the visit of Chesterfield on October 10. Allman added that the club remains in talks with the Premier League regarding potential stadium funding opportunities.
From a squad perspective, the pause comes at a useful time for a team struggling at the foot of the table. Crawley Town are currently 24th in League Two, having taken just four points from their opening seven matches. Their recent form shows four consecutive defeats, including a 4-1 loss at Milton Keynes Dons last time out. Their goal difference of minus 10 is the worst in the division.
Allman acknowledged the impact of injuries on the team's difficult start. "By the time we are back in action at Chesterfield it’s hoped that we should be close to a clean bill of health in the squad," he stated. The CEO noted that missing several starters would affect any team, though he stressed it was not an excuse for results. He also confirmed that the club is actively looking to strengthen the squad, with a particular focus on bringing in a forward, and that discussions with potential targets are ongoing.
The club's immediate focus is the Jersey Mike's Trophy tie at home to Bromley on Tuesday, October 6. Their next league fixture is the following Saturday against high-flying Chesterfield. Fans can view the full upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page and check the latest squad information as players return from international duty and injury.
A new date for the postponed Walsall fixture will be confirmed in due course. The club has congratulated Dion Pereira, Jonny Russell and Nicholas Michalski on their recent international call-ups. Allman concluded by stating the club's ambition is to finish in the top half of the table this season, a target he believes is achievable once the squad is back to full strength and new signings are integrated.
The original report is at SussexWorld
