‘It's the final round and we need you’ – Colin Kazim-Richards issues message to Crawley Town supporters ahead of season-defining Salford clash
“I just want to tell you it's the final round and we need you.”
Those were the words of Colin Kazim-Richards to Crawley Town’s supporters ahead of their must-win League Two clash with high-flying Salford City.
Victory on Saturday for 22nd-placed Crawley would guarantee their Football League status. The Reds should also stay up if they match or better place-below Harrogate Town’s result against Barnet.
But a home defeat to the fourth-placed Ammies, who are battling Cambridge United for League Two’s final automatic promotion spot, could see the Reds’ 15-year stay in the EFL come to an end.
A sell-out crowd is expected at the Broadfield Stadium, and Kazim-Richards has told the Crawley faithful to bring the noise.
He said: “Obviously, they've been great for us all season and for now it's one final 90 minutes, plus whatever's added on, to really give it their all and hopefully they can cheer us over the line.
“Since I've been here, I've always said to you it's one more round – and the fans have literally been the definition of that in terms of being here, supporting, the away support.
“Ninety-nine per cent of what you see online is a lot of support as well. Nothing's ever 100 per cent in life, so 99 per cent of that has been in support.
“I just want to tell you it's the final round and we need you. We need you to be how you've been and we need you to really believe that when you come here, at the end, when the whistle's done, this club will be where it needs to be.
“But that doesn't happen without your support and we're very grateful and we're thankful and we understand the circumstance is difficult.
“But believe me, we are going to do everything possible to focus on what we can control, which is that game.”