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Crawley fans protest against owners; manager apologises for defeat and makes plea to fans

Crawley Town fans protest against the owners WAGMI, while manager Rob Elliot apologises for defeat to Lincoln and makes plea to the fans.

Crawley Town Supporters Alliance (CTSA) say they have had received no reply from the League One strugglers’ owners, WAGMI United, regarding efforts to discuss the results of a recent poll conducted among its members.

The poll, held in January 2025, asked CTSA members to vote on three options concerning the club’s ownership: WAGMI remaining as owners with the current leadership, WAGMI staying but with new senior leadership (including a new CEO), or WAGMI putting the club up for sale.

Of the 700 members, 274 participated, with 60% favoring the option for WAGMI to market the club for sale, 25.1% supporting new leadership, and 14.9% backing the status quo.

The CTSA reached out to WAGMI United’s chairman, Preston Johnson, and vice chairman, Ben Levin, on February the 21st and again on the 2nd of March, seeking a meeting to address the poll’s findings and explore potential improvements.

As of March 5th, no response has been received, prompting the CTSA to publicly express their disappointment.

In a statement, they noted that the lack of engagement from the club’s leadership suggests an unwillingness to understand supporters’ views or collaborate constructively with the official supporters’ representative body.

This silence has fuelled ongoing tensions between WAGMI United and the fanbase, which have been strained by various issues since the ownership group took over in April 2022.

CTSA STATEMENT:

The Crawley Town Supporters Alliance (CTSA) has expressed its disappointment over the lack of response from the club’s leadership following a recent members’ poll regarding the ownership of Crawley Town Football Club.

After conducting the poll, the CTSA reached out to club chairman Preston Johnson and vice chairman Ben Levin on 21st February 2025, and again on 2nd March 2025, to discuss the feedback provided by members and explore potential improvements. However, the CTSA has received no response from either club official.

In a statement released by the CTSA, the supporters’ group criticised the apparent unwillingness of the club’s leadership to engage with fans or address concerns raised in the survey.

“Following the Crawley Town Supporters Alliance members’ poll regarding opinions on the current ownership of Crawley Town Football club, we contacted chairman Preston Johnson and vice chairman Ben Levin on 21st February 2025 and again on 2nd March 2025 requesting to discuss the poll’s comments and work on suggested improvements. We have had no reply.

We are disappointed that the club’s leadership team does not appear to be interested in attempting to understand the reasons behind the CTSA members’ views. They also do not appear to be interested in engaging with the official supporters’ representative body, or engaging in constructive talks to decide how to improve the two-way relationship between the club and its supporters. If the club’s leadership team will not listen to supporters’ feedback, the CTSA would like to express their desire for WAGMI United to employ a leadership team with professional football experience. Failing this, the sale of Crawley Town FC at the earliest opportunity.

We will continue to support the club’s football management team and playing squad and encourage all of our members to do so at this important time of the season.”

Crawley boss Rob Elliot said, per Sussex Express: “It’s disappointing. We started the game so well but then…we talked about defending crosses against Lincoln and we didn’t do it, especially in the first half. It’s just not good enough from everyone.

“I haven’t had a chance to interact with the fans as much as I would like and I know a lot of the anger is directed at me, and I can accept that.

“I have broad shoulders. But one thing I will say it’s not from lack of hard work or desire or not wanting to do the best for the club. I understand there are other issues going on at the club.

“I will make sure we will give it absolutely everything and if we fall short, we fall short. We have got to stick together. My staff are really good people trying to do the best that we can.

“But direct frustration at me, I will take it on the chin. Apologies the results are what they are. And if I don’t come across as good as I should then I can only apologise. I always see the positives and I am doing the best for this club. If we fall short please direct it at me.

“I can’t talk about the club stuff because I haven’t been here long enough to be honest with you but the one thing I do know is everyone at the club is doing the job of two people.

“But apologies to the fans for the travel and the result, we do really appreciate their efforts.”

Crawley fans protest against owners; manager Rob Elliot apologises for defeat to Lincoln and makes plea to fans…

@IHickmott: It’s clearly too late for this season but PLEASE 🙏 get rid of Elliot the hopeless and hapless wet wipe. Given recent events some sort of decisive action will be WAGMI’S only hope of abating a revolution. They have lost the room and the plot

@JackCoo23838957: @WAGMIUnited @SportsCheetah you go on about fan engagement and wanting to listen to us. Then listen, if you’re not going to sell up, Preston, Tobias, Eben, step away, hire experienced football heads, leave the club alone, give us a chance of surviving next season in league 2.

@Aarong879: Only way we’re gonna get change is if we start boycotting going to games, buying merch etc. it’s clear the owners are using the club for their own financial gain, so hopefully a boycott would send a clear message. Hopefully a huge protest happens soon

@Aarong879: @SportsCheetah it’s okay though isn’t it… cuz you’ll be in pocket come end of the season and will do absolutely nothing to improve us. Zero mentality at this tinpot state of a club. Same every week

@Tom43772579: @WAGMIUnited @SportsCheetah Sell the club, wankers.

@mrmiddle09: Fair play to the fans that went!

@mr_lewisfoley: Absolutely pathetic. Roll on League Two!

@danp_89: @SportsCheetah @EbenNotEvan I really hope you guys are watching this latest embarrassment. This club is on its arse and your race is run. We said sign experience, not sign Barrows fifth choice defender. An utter shambles.

@Aarong879: Same old same old bored of it. @SportsCheetah ironic how you’re always silent whenever times get tough, as long as you’re breaking even though and getting personal financial gain you don’t care. How about invest some of that money into the club ffs.

@jaisra02: There’s little point going over the football as it’s the same story over week. The dye was cast when WAGMI decided to go against Scott Lindsey in the summer.

@OlivercarpDavid: I bet Rob is regretting taking this job now. They must have really sold it to him the owners It’s such a good opportunity for you Rob, we will get you the best players in promise you can trust us. We never lie Rob, we’re as honest as the day is long Rob 100%. We back you

@stephen_dimmock: It’s time to push the button now in regards to the coaching team. Surely the only option now if we are to have any chance of survival (and get someone experienced in temporarily)

@AdamM_NFL: It’s so sad to see what has happened to this club in the space of a season. Players are not up to standard. Manager is tactically inept and constantly changing his players around. Ownership never really gave it a chance in league 1 by selling the promotion squad. So sad.

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