Crawley Town dismiss head coach Colin Kazim-Richards after Shrewsbury defeat

Crawley Town have parted company with head coach Colin Kazim-Richards following Tuesday night's 3-2 home defeat to Shrewsbury Town. The club announced the decision shortly after midnight, with assistant Julian Gray also relieved of his duties and director of football Erdem Konyar set to leave as well.

The result was Crawley's seventh loss in 10 league games this season, during which they have won only once and conceded 20 goals. They sit five points adrift at the bottom of League Two, and the club described the start as its worst since winning promotion to the English Football League in 2011.

In a statement, Crawley thanked Kazim-Richards and Gray, noting they joined during a challenging period and helped secure the club's EFL status at the end of last season. After his appointment in March, Kazim-Richards oversaw two wins and three draws in the final seven matches as Crawley finished one point and one place above the relegation zone. The club also thanked Konyar for his work since returning last year.

Speaking to BBC Radio Surrey after the Shrewsbury loss, Kazim-Richards said he believed he could turn results around but questioned whether he would be given time. He argued his squad lacked experience and game management, pointing to nine league debuts handed out, and said he still felt he could have got the best out of the players.

Crawley's summer saw 16 players arrive either permanently or on loan while 16 departed. BBC Radio Surrey and Sussex sports editor Robin Grey said the dismissal had felt inevitable given the club's worst-ever start to an EFL season, and described the recruitment as scattergun. He added that Konyar's exit signals owner Raphael Khalili recognises the recruitment fell short, and that the club must now appoint someone with league experience. Supporters had been calling for a change before the announcement.

Source: BBC Sport

Image: Shutterstock / BBC Sport