'Important' - Crawley Town boss hints at changes to coaching staff as he praises assistant head coach
Colin Kazim-Richards has praised ‘important’ assistant Julian Gray – but also hinted there maybe changes and additions to his coaching staff.
The former Brighton striker and ex-Crystal Palace winger were announced as permanent head coach and assistant head coach respectively following their successful seven game stint at the end of last season where they guided the club to League Two safety.
First team coach Jamie Day and goalkeeping coach Kris Dixon both remained as part of the staff following Scott Lindsey’s departure in March and are still under contract.
And Kazim-Richards said he will make changes to the coaching staff if he needs to. When asked if there would be additions, he replied: “Yeah, hopefully. It's something that we're talking about and we're looking at.
“Out of respect, I think it's best that I don't say right now because nothing's set in stone. But there's something because, all egos aside, I'm trying to come and do the best possible job possible. Make no mistake about it, I want to be as great as possible.
“That's my personal goal in anything that I do. I set out to try and dominate, to try and win and learn. So why would I not, if I've got the opportunity to bring someone that adds to that. It would be silly for me not to, right? I understand in terms of the budgets and where we actually are, that's all logical to me.
“But at the same time, I believe that we can add and I'll be pushing for that.”
But one man who the 39-year-old sees as a important part of the journey going forward is his assistant Gray. The pair have known each other for a long time with friends in common, they played together, and Gray has coached Kyle - one of Kazim-Richards’ kids - at Birmingham.
The Reds boss said: “Julian is very important. Julian is calm, Julian is calculated. Julian has a football knowledge of understanding footballers and understanding how to bring out the best in the players that we have.
“In terms of setting up training to giving clarity and when we're sitting there and we're thinking about how to break down teams or how to set up or how we should possibly set up, what's our qualities, what's our weaknesses, that's what he brings me. And he also brings a voice of sometimes what you don't want to hear, but what you need to hear.
“What I mean by that, sometimes if you don't have a relationship with someone, you can take that the wrong way because, you know, sometimes your ego, whether it's small or big, your ego is not ready for those type of comments.
“But for me, it's something I need and it's something that he brings.”