Torres: ‘I was all set to leave Crawley’

But the midfielder has now had a change of heart after saying Richie Barker has assured him he will be involved more and the Argentine is now committed to proving his worth to the boss.

Torres started only three of the opening 40 League One games last term before starting four of the last six, and speaking to the Crawley Observer on Tuesday he said: “Of course it was very hard.

“The two years before last season I played nearly every game and I fell in love with the club after two promotions and the FA Cup runs.

“At the end of the season I was ready to look for another club, I had made the decision to leave. But I had a chat to the manager and asked him to be honest with me. He said that at the end of the season I showed him that he didn’t need to get another player in my position so I decided to stay.”

The popular playmaker, who turns 32 next month is happily settled in the south, living in Brighton with his wife and two-year-old daughter.

He turned down a loan move to join former manager Steve Evans at Rotherham Utd in November with both clubs having agreed terms, but Evans has not followed up his much-publicised interest with a summer offer, and no other clubs are believed to have moved to sign him ahead of the new season.

The former Peterborough Utd player – who joined in 2010 for a reported £100,000 when Crawley were in the Conference – has a year left on his current deal and warned that if he again finds himself stuck on the sidelines this term he will be forced to consider his options once again.

“I love living in Brighton, I’m very happy and I love playing for Crawley so hopefully I’ll get the chance to play a lot and show the gaffer my worth,” Torres said. “I felt I did well when I played at the end, we had good results against Coventry and away at Sheffield Utd and I enjoyed playing in my favourite position.

“But if I’m not playing I will have to look at things, have another chat with the manager and consider my options. I know in football things can change quickly.”

The support of the Crawley faithful has never wavered, with some fans chanting to bring him on in games last season and Torres added: “The fans have been absolutely brilliant since the first day I came to the club.

“All I can say is thank you and that hopefully I’ll get the chance to show them I still care about the club.”

The Crawley players returned for their first training session on Wednesday ahead of their opening pre-season friendly away at County League Oakwood on Friday July 5.