Crawley Town have sacked Colin Kazim-Richards following their 3–2 home defeat to Shrewsbury Town, with assistant Julian Gray and director of football Erdem Konyar also leaving the club.
The announcement came at 12.35am on Wednesday 21 October, hours after another damaging night at Broadfield Stadium. Crawley remain bottom of League Two, with the search for a new head coach beginning after just one league win this season.
Survival last season, struggles this time
Kazim-Richards arrived in March and helped Crawley preserve their Football League status. Two wins and three draws from the final seven games were enough to keep them above the relegation places, and he signed a new deal in May.
This season has brought a very different return: one win, two draws and seven defeats from 10 league matches, with 20 goals conceded, according to BBC Sport.
The club thanked Kazim-Richards and Gray for their contribution to last season’s survival and acknowledged Konyar’s work since returning to Crawley. All three leave with the club’s best wishes. Crawley said it would make no further comment at this time.
More of the ball, another home defeat
Tuesday’s result was a particularly painful one. Crawley went ahead early and later pulled level at 2–2, only for Josh Davison’s second goal of the night to give Shrewsbury the win.
Our match data shows Crawley had 58% possession, but Shrewsbury finished with more attempts and more shots on target. The visitors made their evening count on the scoreboard.
| Match statistic | Crawley | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 58% | 42% |
| Total shots | 12 | 16 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 7 |
After the game, Kazim-Richards told BBC Radio Surrey: “I feel I can. If I’m given the time is another question.” The decision followed later that night.
Who could Crawley turn to?
A The72 opinion piece, also carried by Yahoo Sports, puts forward Stuart Maynard, Michael Flynn and Lee Bowyer as three managers Crawley should consider.
Those are the publication’s suggestions. Crawley have not announced a shortlist or confirmed approaches to any of them.
The £250,000 move paid for by a fan’s competition win
There is also an unusual chapter in Kazim-Richards’ playing career. His 2005 move from Bury to Brighton & Hove Albion was funded by a Coca-Cola competition won by Brighton supporter Aaron Berry, whose prize provided £250,000 towards a signing.
Kazim-Richards subsequently joined Sheffield United in 2006 before a career that also took him into international football with Turkey.
Fans react to Crawley’s decision
Replies to the announcement welcomed the change while stressing how important the next appointment will be. Calls for experience sat alongside suggested replacements and jokes about the timing of the late-night statement. Here are five reactions from X; the names being discussed are supporter suggestions, rather than appointment news.
Available managers Dave challinor Stuart Maynard Karl Robinson Pep Go and appoint one
Excellent news to wake up to, it goes without saying the wrong decision now could kill the club.
Took so long. Should never have been appointed in the first place. Learn from past mistakes and bring in someone with experience
its going to be vito as player manager isnt it
half 12 sacking, games back
Sources
- Crawley Town: official club statement
- BBC Sport: departure, season record and post-match interview
- The Argus: Shrewsbury match report
- The72 via Yahoo Sports: suggested managerial candidates
- Colin Kazim-Richards: playing career and 2005 transfer
- League Two in Numbers: saved API-Football match statistics
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