Crawley Town quickly bring in several new additions as much of their playoff final winning team sign for new clubs.
In the words of one fan, “the promotion squad is being torn apart” with teams in the division Crawley have just been promoted to have snapped up key players who helped get the West Sussex outfit get into the third tier for the first time in nine years.
Crawley finished 7th in the 2023/24 League Two season under Scott Lindsey, with Danilo Orsi their top scorer, 23 in the league and 25 in 50 matches in all competitions.
He’s already gone, signing for Burton Albion on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee, despite signing an extended contract with Crawley a month ago.
Crawley’s team from the playoff final 😳 https://t.co/Mf2tuyRaAT
— tomhwilliams23 (@tomhwilliams23) June 27, 2024
Crawley head-scratcher summers are tradition now. Just when you think you’ve figured WAGMI out, a new curveball.
Had a disaster 22-23 and a dream 23-24. Can you rip apart a promoted team to raise funds and rebuild a team for survival? No idea, but looks like they’re trying it… https://t.co/VttQhKrNB3
— Edward Walker (@edward_w97) June 28, 2024
📰 THE CTSA DEPARTS
Crawley Town Football Club can confirm that The CTSA has left the club for an undisclosed fee.#TownTeamTogether🔴
— Joe Bird (P) (@Joebirdtokky2) June 28, 2024
“I love scoring goals, being in and around the box and getting on the end of things. I love to work hard for the team, running, pressing, high-energy, giving 110% every week and just enjoying playing my football,” Orsi said to Burton’s website.
“I spoke to the Sporting Director [Bendik Hareide] on the phone and he was telling me about all of the exciting changes, as well as the vision and the philosophy of the club, which confirmed my decision and made it an easy choice,” he added.
Nick Tsaroulla, who was a late sub in Crawley’s playoff final, has signed for Notts County on a two-year deal (and a further 12-month option on his deal) after the wing-back turned down a contract offer to stay.
The 25 year old made 128 appearances and netted 12 times in nearly four seasons with the Reds, six of the goals came in 49 games in all competitions for the 2023/24 season.
Swindon Town have signed free-agent defender Will Wright after he turned down a contract offer at Crawley Town, who whom he scored four goals for across 54 appearances.
Crawley have lost their goalkeeper Corey Addai, who made the most saves of any goalkeeper in League Two last season (179), has joined Stockport on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee and is to be competition for Stockport player of the season Ben Hinchliffe, while Stockport also signed 20 year old goalkeeper Max Metcalfe as a “development keeper”.
Another player to depart is forward Klaidi Lolos, with Bolton Wanderers signing for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract. The 23 year old scored 13 goals in 46 League Two appearances for 2023/24.
Winger / striker Adam Campbell had agreed a return to Hartlepool, despite being offered a new contract by Crawley upon the expiration of his existing deal. The 29 year scored 7 goals for Crawley last season.
Centre back Laurence Maguire, Harry’s brother, was on loan at Crawley from Chesterfield, scoring 3 times in 34 games. He returned back to the Spireites and will join MK Dons in July.
Crawley have quickly acted having lost much of their key players.
📰 JOSH FLINT SIGNS FOR CRAWLEY
Crawley Town Football Club is delighted to announce that centre-back Josh Flint has joined the Red Devils on an initial two-year deal following the expiration of his contract at FC Volendam.#TownTeamTogether🔴
— Crawley Town FC (@crawleytown) June 27, 2024
📰 RUSHIAN HEPBURN-MURPHY JOINS THE REDS
Crawley Town Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of striker Rushian Hepburn-Murphy following the expiration of his contract at Swindon Town.#TownTeamTogether🔴
— Crawley Town FC (@crawleytown) June 28, 2024
📰 SCOTT MALONE SIGNS FOR CRAWLEY
Crawley Town Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of experienced defender Scott Malone, who joins the club from Gillingham for an undisclosed fee. #TownTeamTogether🔴
— Crawley Town FC (@crawleytown) June 28, 2024
Midfielder Jeremy Kelly and Jack Roles has signed a new two-year contract, while bringing in another midfielder in 21 year old midfielder Antony Papadopoulos from Welling United, 21 year old defender Charlie Barker from Wealdstone, striker Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, centre-back Josh Flint, and defender Scott Malone.
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, once the second youngest player to debut for Aston Villa at the age of 16 and hailed as a promising talent in English football, joins Crawley following the expiration of his contract at Swindon Town.
The Birmingham born player, early career showed much promise, but despite making 13 appearances for Villa, he struggled to secure a permanent spot in the first team squad and was subsequently sent out on various loan spells to clubs including Cambridge United (1 goal in 10 games in League Two 19/20) and Tranmere Rovers (5 goals in 22 games in League One 20/21).
Then came the switch to Swindon in 2022, scoring 5 goals and produced 3 assists over 23 appearances in League Two, and then 5 goals and 1 assist in the same division for 2023/24.
At Crawley, he’s expected to take up a central role in the forward line, and his versatility allows him to play as a central striker or on the wings, providing tactical flexibility. Although, his primary role will likely be leading the line, where his speed and ability to stretch defences will be crucial.
Hepburn-Murphy’s signing could potentially boost Crawley’s attacking options. Yet, there are concerns about his consistency and ability to perform under pressure. The team struggled with goal-scoring last season, but can Hepburn-Murphy be the solution. His previous scoring rate suggests he might not be the prolific striker the team needs to climb the league table.
Also joining is 23 year old former Portsmouth academy player Josh Flint, who made 28 appearances for Volendam, a club relegated from the Dutch Eredivisie last season. He signs a two-year deal, subject to international clearance.
And another big deal done is Scott Malone, who can play as a left back or left-sided midfielder, having last been at League Two side Gillingham.
Malone came through Wolves’ academy to turn professional in 2009, but never made the first team and went out on loan for the likes of Újpest, Southend, Burton and Bournemouth.
He permanently joined Bournemouth in July 2011, spent a season there, before deciding to join Millwall in May 2012.
Malone then had stints with Huddersfield, Fulham, and Derby followed before he returned to Millwall, initially on loan, in the summer of 2020 and soon made it permanent a year later.
He signed with the Gills at the beginning of the 2023/24 season and appeared in 48 matches.
The experience, defensive contribution, leadership, versatility, and defensive skills make him a solid signing for any team, including his new club Crawley Town.
This is how fans and analysts reacted as Crawley bring in new additions as much of their playoff final winning team sign for new clubs…
@jkanalysis7 on Malone: Major experience — even at Championship level. Didn’t have the best end to the season for Gills, especially in comparison to his start. Hope Crawley keep making signings like these, if they’re still going to sell/move on players.
@tomhwilliams23 on Malone: On the face of it that’s a good signing. Scott Malone has a wealth of experience. He looked a class above L2 level at the start of the season, although lost his place by the end of it. But just don’t know where he fits in. They’ve signed Flint for LCB. Malone at LWB? Not sure 🤔
@lewisradbourne1 on Malone: I like this one from #TownTeamTogether. Not sure if Malone would play on the left but rather on the left of the back three, which I think would make more sense given his age. His experience could be highly beneficial for Crawley as they head into a tough L1.
@LowerThanRy on Malone: Good signing, lots of experience in the upper football league, good job and welcome to Crawley Scott!
@entitled_png on Malone: Our Tsaroulla replacement… huge amount of experience in the Championship, can pop up with a few goals every now and then. Welcome Scotty 🤝
@EllisDaChef on Hepburn-Murphy: Feel a bit better today, in Lindsey we trust!. We still have those memories from last season forever, dancing on the pitch in the rain at the final game of the season. The biggest win @ MK Dons in League History!. And the Home of Football, Wembley!.
@rejamiesta on Hepburn-Murphy: There is potential there but in 1.5 seasons with us he’s rarely gone above being a bang average league two player
@_Haytch_ on Hepburn-Murphy: That’s the Campbell replacement I guess
@80HBK on Hepburn-Murphy: can be a threat and is fairly decent but also very frustrating and very injury prone

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