'Good people' - Crawley Town manager praises staff who have joined him from Gateshead

Louis Storey and Antony Sweeney were key men alongside Elliot in Gateshead recent success, after they helped the club win their first trophy in their career and to finish in a play-off spot in the national league.

Elliot was in full praise for his colleagues, as he said: “Louis has been one of my closest friends and he’s been coaching since he was 18 and he is a very experienced coach, even though he is only 30. He was a fantastic player as well for Gateshead. He’s someone that is really driven. He sets really high standards.

“I think the detail Louis goes into is really good and he obviously wants to improve but he wants everyone to improve as well, and he wants it to be about the group.

“Sweeny joined us in the summer, but he’s helped me and Louis improve so much, he’s took us up another level. His detail, his understanding of the game, even the sports science comparable to the football, his understanding of the individuals with his structure, his understanding of opposition.”

SEE ALSO Crawley Town was 'too good of an opportunity to turn down', says new manager Elliot | Crawley Town's new manager in stands ahead of Mansfield Town game | Watch the first interview with new Crawley Town manager Rob Elliot

The three of them make a great team, and Crawley Town fans would hope that the three of them can link up again to help the Reds get back on track after seven games without a win.

Elliot said: “It is a really nice blend, and we had that discussion that the three of us make up what’s been successful, why we’ve probably got better from last season to this season at Gateshead.

“The big thing is that I want to work with good people who work hard and have values and are humble and hardworking and I think that will reflect on the players.

“I wouldn’t enjoy it without having those guys with me and I wouldn’t be able to implement what I want to do without having people that I trust and people that I know that have strengths that make up for my weaknesses.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for them and I think we are really looking forward to getting started.”

The three of them and the rest of the staff at Crawley have only two days to prepare for their first test: a trip to Wycombe Wanderers this Saturday as Crawley look for their first win since August.