Crawley Town boss sends classy message to Gillingham boss ahead of League Two encounter
Crawley Town manager Scott Lindsey sent a classy message of support to Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth ahead of Saturday’s meeting between the two sides.
Ainsworth will be at Priestfield Stadium for the first time in the league since undergoing heart surgery at the end of September.
And Lindsey was quick to begin the preview of Saturday’s League Two game by mentioning the returning Gills manager.
“I would like to wish him all the best on behalf of everybody here at Crawley Town Football Club,” he said. “And also to make reference to the fact that he’s coming back to Priestfield Stadium for the first time (in the league).
“I don’t think he’ll be in the dugout but just his presence at the game is going to be massive in terms of the supporters’ and certainly the players’ point of view.
“We’ve got to make sure that we’re ready for that and it will make a difference to them. We’re mindful of that.”
Gillingham is one of Crawley’s shorter away trips, and their boss hopes that will be of benefit to his side at the weekend.
Lindsey said: “It’s down the road. Of course, it is an away game, but it’s not that far. So I expect my team to be ready and firing on all four cylinders.”
“We’re not travelling on the Friday. There’s not a long journey up north in the traffic, stopping halfway up and coaching the team and then getting back on the coach and travelling again for another hour or so to a hotel. It’s not the case.”
To the travelling supporters, he said: “Just come and enjoy. I really look forward to walking out the tunnel and seeing them just before kick-off. That’s a great moment for me.
“But what is a better moment is at the end of the game when you’ve got three points. So come and enjoy and let’s hope that we get them three points.”
The Reds have been solid at home this campaign but have found life on the road tougher, picking up just four of their 15 points away from Broadfield Stadium.
Lindsey kept it simple when asked how his players can turn things around on Saturday. “A win and a good performance is what I want to see,” he said.
Crawley will make it three league wins in a row if victorious and climb further away from the relegation zone. Their opponents Gillingham sit seventh in the table and four points off the top. The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports with a later kick-off time of 5.30pm.