'Happily' - Free agent and former Millwall and Cardiff City defender would '100%' sign for Crawley Town
Scott Malone said he would ‘happily’ sign for Crawley Town if he was asked to.
The 35-year-old left the club in the summer despite playing a vital part in their League Two survival at the end of last season.
The former Millwall and Cardiff City defender made 16 appearances last campaign in what was his second spell at the club.
The first spell ended in mystery after just two games at the beginning of their League One campaign.
Reds fans would have been delighted to see him in Colin Kazim-Richards’ squad this season but it was not to be – but if the door opened again at the Broadfield Stadium, Malone told BBC Sussex’s Robin Grey he would not hesitate in coming back.
On why it ended at Crawley, he said: “It was a weird one for me. Obviously, I'd like to think that was a massive part of them keeping their EFL status at the back end of last season. I got on really well with Scott [Lindsey], got on really well again with Colin when he came in.
“I can't say a bad word about him, to be honest. I think he's going to have a really bright future in the management game. He said, ‘look, I want to keep you. Let's get it sorted in the summer’. Went away on holiday, didn't really hear anything.
“An offer was put to me. I think, to be fair, Colin approached it really well when he spoke about it...we just couldn't meet.
“The business side of it, I think, is the term he used, just couldn't be met. I think that's pretty much how it went. I see it as my club. It's 15 minutes away. I really wanted to stay, but it wasn't to be, unfortunately.”
Crawley Town and Kazim-Richards have assembled a young squad for the current campaign and fans have been calling out for a bit of experience – and Malone would fit the bill.
And after the 3-2 defeat against Accrington, Malone, rather fittingly, posted on X: “Can’t beat a bit of experience!” which led fans to respond telling him they wished he was still part of the team.
And when asked by Robin Grey if he would come back if he was asked, he replied: "Happily. I don't really know the ins and outs of what's going on inside the club, because I haven't really spoke to anyone. To be honest with you, I've not really watched the games that they've had in detail.
“I've just seen the scores. I think I watched them for one half of one, so I can't really comment too much. But you could argue that for a lot of younger players in, I think I'm right in saying, and I do think they lack that little bit of experience.
“That's just from a fan's point of view now. I'm actually a fan. I think they do need a bit of experience, but the answer to your question, if they phone me in an hour's time, if they phone me next week, 100% I'll go back.”
As a free agent, Malone has been part of a PFA Camp and is currently looking for a club.
You can listen to BBC Sussex’s full interview at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0p8g0dh.