'Saturday is the ultimatum, so that's what I have to think about' says Crawley Town head coach Colin Kazim-Richards
Colin Kazim-Richards insisted that he has to pick the best possible team ‘irrespective of relationship’ ahead of a seismic clash with Salford City at the Broadfield Stadium on Saturday.
The Reds, 22nd in League Two, could face relegation from the EFL if they fail to win at the weekend and their relegation rivals capitalise in their respective fixtures.
They will be relying on Barnet to beat 23rd-placed Harrogate Town and keep them below the Reds, while bottom-club Barrow are all-but-relegated with three points and a goal difference swing of eight to make up.
Kazim-Richards, who never likes to reveal much about his options ahead of a game, was asked if there were players pushing to be a part of such a monumental game.
He said: “I think everybody's been pushing for a selection place or to be in the squad. But I have to do what's best or what I feel is best and what is the best team that will get us the three points, irrespective of our relationship, personal emotions.
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“I just have to pick the best 17 that we have, the best 11 to start the game that I feel, and then we go from there.
“Are there people pushing? Yes, but at this stage, there's nothing else after Saturday. Saturday is the ultimatum, so that's what I have to think a bout.”
The Reds came from behind three times last week to draw 3-3 at Accrington Stanley, but Kazim-Richards rued the ‘self-inflicted pain’ that he felt caused the goals they shipped.
The Reds boss confirmed that those moments had been assessed in the build-up to Saturday’s crucial game.
He said: “I think at this stage, everything should be addressed. I don't think the players should be really taking things personally because we are where we are. Start taking things personally - we're not going to move forward.
“The most important thing right now is Crawley Town and staying in the EFL. That's it. So, the personal feelings and emotions, Saturday [at] half past six, we can have that talk.
“But before then, you know, it doesn't really matter what needs to be addressed in a respectful way. It gets addressed and it has been addressed because I think the self-infliction, or the three goals that we concede, doesn't have anything to do with quality, standard, tactics.
“It just has to be with your self-drive, your own mind. That was it, and it's been explained and to be fair, everybody's taken it on board and we move on.”