Next Crawley Manager Odds: Six Replacements for Rob Elliot

Crawley Town are searching for a new manager following the exit of Rob Elliot. EFL pundit Gab Sutton looks at several possible candidates to replace him in the next Crawley manager odds...

Scott Lindsey

League Two’s overwhelming relegation favourites in the ante-post, Crawley miraculously achieved promotion via the Play-Offs in 2023-24, thanks to inspired coaching from Scott Lindsey.

So, he’s worked wonders in Sussex before – last season in fact – and the Red Devils might have had a better shot at survival this season had he not left for MK Dons.

Somebody who’s already experienced working with WAGMI United this season, however, is unlikely to do so again.

Mike Williamson

MK Dons poach Mike Williamson from Gateshead, who replace him with Rob Elliot, who goes to Crawley to replace Scott Lindsey, who left for MK Dons to replace Williamson: there does seem to be a triangle emerging between the three clubs.

So, the Red Devils appointing Williamson would continue the theme, as three clubs with similar stylistic preferences exchange coaches with similar stylistic preferences.

The former Newcastle centre-back is clearly a good technical coach with some great ideas which, if implemented over a full pre-season – something he didn’t have at Carlisle – could bear fruit.

He’s not the most charismatic motivator in the world, however, and may need an assistant who will get players to run through brick walls for them, while he combs through the finer tactical details.

Ian Evatt

Evatt’s stock has unquestionably dropped this season, but he has delivered four full seasons of continual progression at Bolton, off the back of a drastic wholesale rebuild for the club, not to mention a Barrow side that won the National League title playing great football on a lower end budget in 2019-20.

The former centre-back might have his sights set higher than Crawley, but there’s a chance he takes the job because he’s keen back in to reaffirm his managerial value after a tough 10 months.

If the Crawley owners are prepared to take a back-seat once again, and give the power to football people, there may be an appeal to Evatt – but it feels like a long shot.

Jon Brady

As somebody who’s delivered success in each of his three full seasons in EFL management, Jon Brady feels he’s earnt a job at an ambitious, upward-looking League One job.

What he feels he’s earnt, and what he’s likely to get, though, aren’t necessarily the same thing in a sport in which opportunity can be dictated largely by profile and perception.

So, circumstance may tip him into the attainable category for Crawley, especially if he can get good football people around him, like he had at Northampton in Colin Calderwood and Martin Foyle.

Louis Storey

Having been part of the Elliot regime that was cut short, it feels unlikely that Louis Storey’s interim stint in charge will last longer than a game or two, with indications that the club are shooting for a quick appointment.

If Storey delivers unbelievable performances against Bristol Rovers and Rotherham, it’s possible he could come into the club’s thinking, but it’s likelier the 31-year-old will rejoin Elliot in his next job.

Matt Gray

Having assisted the late, great Dermot Drummy at Broadfield in the mid-2010s, Matt Gray is familiar with Crawley, but his main USP would be his subsequent achievements at Sutton United.

With a functional, efficient 4-4-2 outfit that liked to play long from deep to Omar Bugiel, but could also play some great football once they got into the opposing half, with quick wide men and a potent threat from set pieces, the U’s enjoyed the most successful period in their history under the 43-year-old.

The South Londoners won the National League title as a part-time club in 2020-21, over Stockport, Notts County, Chesterfield and Wrexham, who each dominated the division in subsequent seasons with multiple times the U’s budget.

Sutton missed out on the Play-Offs on the final day of their maiden Football League season in 2021-22, and the following season, were in the top 10 up until a dead-rubber last three games.

The following season was something to a hiding to nothing, with wingers Enzio Boldewijn, David Ajiboye and Will Randall leaving, with other key men in Ali Smith and Omar Bugiel also departing, and prospect Kylian Kouassi going to Blackpool.

Meanwhile, midfield fulcrum and captain Craig Eastmond suffered a damaging injury, likewise goalkeeper Jack Rose, plus centre-backs Louis John and Ben Goodliffe, left-backs Sam Hart and Rob Milsom, and forward Scott Kashket.

The recruitment in summer 2023 could have been better, perhaps in terms of replacing the profiles of those departing, but any solutions would have been sub-optimal in difficult circumstances – and Gray has since had 18 months to reflect on things, learn one or two lessons but also hone his methodology that’s delivered one of the most successful tenures in English football, pound-for-pound, over the last decade.

Appointing Gray would represent something of a change of direction, in favour of a more pragmatic route, but it’s possible this season’s naivety might nudge them into a rethink.