Crawley Town

Crawley Town interim manager Kevin Blackwell wants his team to "dream a little bit" as they chase a repeat of the club's memorable FA Cup runs.

The Reds got to the fifth round in 2011, losing 1-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford, and also in 2012, before being beaten by Stoke City.

They also reached the fourth round in 2021, beating Leeds United 3-0 before losing to Bournemouth.

But Crawley have won only one of their seven FA Cup games since then and are currently bottom of League Two as they prepare to face seventh-tier Wimborne Town of the Southern League Premier Division South.

Blackwell - who was hired after the club fired Colin Kazim-Richards last month - is keen for his players to seize their opportunity.

"It takes you away from the league and it allows you to dream a little bit," Blackwell told BBC Radio Sussex.

"It gives us clubs - the lower league clubs - an opportunity. If we win the games and go through the rounds to play the big clubs, [there's] nothing better than that."

Blackwell's own history with the FA Cup includes a memorable semi-final.

He was assistant manager of Sheffield United in 2003 when they faced Arsenal at Old Trafford and Gunners goalkeeper David Seaman pulled off a magnificent save to deny Paul Peschisolido what seemed a certain equaliser.

Now, he is aiming to repel a Wimborne Town side who play three divisions below his team and is not taking anything for granted.

"If we have to grind it out, we will do that," he said.

"If we were playing Manchester United or Arsenal, we would prepare exactly the same way and if I see anybody take liberties they will soon know about it."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Shutterstock

Crawley Town have re-signed defender Josh Flint on a contract to the end of the season.

The 26-year-old left in the summer when his previous contract expired as he recovered from surgery on an injury.

Having completed his rehabilitation, Flint has been training with the club for more than a month and has now signed a new deal.

He has made 57 appearances for the Reds, scoring twice.

Crawley Town's interim manager Kevin Blackwell says the point earned against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday is "only a starter" in their fight to get off the bottom of League Two.

The game was 67-year-old Blackwell's first as a boss in the English Football League (EFL) since being sacked by Bury in October 2013.

Crawley dismissed manager Colin Kazim-Richards, his assistant Julian Gray and director of football Erdem Konyar last week after just one win from their first 10 league games this season.

Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Tranmere, Blackwell told BBC Radio Sussex: "It is a big step for the club and hopefully we can keep moving forward.

"But it'll be no good going into the next game and not giving what we've seen today. So what we've given today, we've got to improve on. But effort-wise, and commitment, I can't fault them."

Blackwell is overseeing the team while Crawley seek a permanent manager.

However, the former Leeds and Sheffield United boss, who managed in Thailand and Poland between 2022 and 2024, played down his hunger to return to an EFL dugout on a regular basis.

"I said I would only come in as the interim and help out, and I will do whatever I can to help the club," he said.

"There's lovely people here, I have to say. The chairman seems to be trying to do the right thing.

"I've been impressed with the training ground, the surface here [at the Broadfield Stadium] is excellent, so I'm quite impressed with what I've seen.

"Whether I'm here for a week or 10 weeks, I don't know. But while I'm here, I will give everything I've got."

Sheffield United legend Billy Sharp joins the pod following his retirement after a 22-year-long career. He tells us what made him an EFL bagsman and how he knew it was time to hang up the boots.

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Where's it going wrong at Derby County and Norwich City?

Plus, there's been a sacking in League Two: having been let go by Crawley Town, what next for Colin Kazim-Richards?

Listen to the full episode above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Andrew Raeburn
BBC Sport, London & South East

Crawley Town boss Colin Kazim-Richards said the club's next two games are "massive" both "for me personally and for the team".

The Reds currently sit at the foot of League Two, with just five points from their first nine games.

Their latest defeat came in a 2-1 loss away to league leaders Salford City on Saturday.

Kazim-Richards took over as head coach in March and has won five of his 20 games in charge, but did steer them to League Two survival on the final day of last season.

Crawley's next two games are both at home, to 14th-placed Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday and 17th-placed Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.

And, speaking to BBC Radio Sussex after the Salford defeat, Kazim-Richards accepted the magnitude of those matches on the team's position and his own.

"These two games are massive, for me personally and for the team as well," he said.

"We've played against two of the top sides consecutively, Chesterfield and Salford, and now we are going to play against a couple of teams that are probably more around where we are now, with all due respect, if you're looking at the table.

"It's two very, very important games, for the team and for me personally."