Evans eyes Tubbs swoop

By sosborn simon osborn simon.osborn@essnmedia.co.uk

STEVE Evans has turned his attentions to Salisbury City's Matt Tubbs as the Reds' search for a striker gathers pace.

The Reds manager believes Tubbs, who has scored an impressive 96 goals in 179 games for Salisbury, is just the man to get Crawley's play-off ambitions back on track.

Evans has been linked with a number of forwards in recent weeks as he bids to boost an attacking line that has scored just 18 goals in 19 league games this season.

The Crawley News exclusively revealed that Anthony Elding was in talks with the Reds before he joined Kettering, while the club's board blocked a move to sign former Brighton man Nathan Elder.

But Evans is confident a deal for Tubbs could be made, as the cash-strapped Whites are keen to reduce their wage bill.

Evans said: "We know what he is earning as we made an approach for him last summer. I spoke with Tommy Widdrington last week and he told me that he didn't want to let Matt go.

"I have every sympathy for his position as we have been in administration here in the past, but it is frustrating that they are that much in debt and won't let us help them reduce their wage bill.

"But Bruce Winfield will be contacting their board this week to make sure our message has gone upstairs and I'm still hopeful we can pull the deal off."

Salisbury went into administration in September with debts believed to be around £200,000 owed to HM Revenue & Customs.

The club are under a transfer embargo at the moment but are able to sell players or let them go out on loan if it improves their financial position.

Evans himself has been told by the club's directors that he must sell before he can buy and last week allowed Jefferson Louis to join Rushden & Diamonds on loan to allow him to re-jig a front line that has only scored four times away from home this campaign.

And Evans had hoped to bring Elder in from League Two's Shrewsbury Town.

An agreement was reached with Shrews manager Paul Simpson and the player but the Crawley board stopped the deal when they found out what Elder was earning.

"It is frustrating but I have complete faith in the board that they know what this club can afford and what it can't," added Evans.

"We want to get away from our boom and bust culture and want to build as good a as side as we can but on a sound financial footing.

"Saturday's defeat to Mansfield was frustrating but after the game Bruce said to me 'do you think you could have won that game with Jamie Cook, Jake Wright and Jon-Paul Pittman?' I didn't really need to answer that question."

CRAWLEY Town hope to have Simon Rayner available for Saturday's trip to Hayes and Yeading United.

The big goalkeeper was in hospital Saturday night after a bad fall during Saturday's 2-0 defeat at home to Mansfield but is expected to have recovered in time to take his place in the starting line-up.

Evans said: "Simon's fine, he was badly bruised and winded but is taking it easy for a few days and we expect him to be available for selection.

"He's been a big player for us and has deserved the supporters' player of the month award."