‘Just look forward to Saturday’ – Colin Kazim-Richards keeps Crawley Town tactics close to his chest

The 39-year-old will take charge of his first-ever professional fixture when the 16th-placed Gills visit the Broadfield Stadium on Saturday.

The former Türkiye international’s appointment was confirmed on Tuesday [March 24] following the sacking of Scott Lindsey two days before, with the Reds 21st in the table and without a win in 10.

Towards the end of Lindsey’s second spell in charge, Reds supporters made plain their frustrations over the 53-year-old’s supposed lack of flexibility in his system.

Lindsey, who preferred three central defenders and wing-backs, was accused of failing to adapt to in-game situations, with many Crawley fans calling for him to change to a 4-4-2 formation.

But Kazim-Richards refused to tip his tactical hand – admitting he didn’t want to give anything away before this weekend’s crunch match with Gillingham.

He said: “For Gillingham's sake, we're playing three at the back! No, I can't say that, because I think this is an important game for us in terms of the unexpected, right?

“Football's about margins. Football's about details and small wins, so I don't want to give out anything in terms of that.

“But people just have to know, just look forward to Saturday. I hope to see many people here.

“I know it's a tough time – believe me, I know – but hopefully you're going to see a team that's going to give everything.

“They're going to give everything to you and you're going to see a team that's creating chances, that's got bodies around the box, that's going to put the ball in the back of the net.

“We've got the players to keep us in the game and keep us in the league as well. And what I say by keeping us in the game is that you take every game as they come.

“We have players like [Jacob] Chapman, who's made some unbelievable saves, keeping us in the game, so now we have to go and turn that into goals.”