F A n F I L E

CRAIG BRATT @ craigybratt

The big talking point among the fans is the departures of top scorer Ollie Palmer and Panutche Camara, after both turned down contract offers. Also, the scoreboard: will it ever be fixed? This season will be different to last

because for the first time in a while, we haven’t let half of the team leave and there’s a sense that this squad could really be going places.

I won’t be happy unless we are pushing for a play- off place. Our most underrated player is striker Reece Grego- Cox, who never quite gets the credit he deserves.

Look out for Ricky German, 21. He spent most of last term on loan at Hemel Hempstead, then scored his first Crawley goal in March. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Tarryn Allarakhia – nice guy, but I just don’t think he makes the cut in League Two.

The opposition player I secretly admire is Eoin Doyle: he’s a machine. The pantomime villain will be the north of England. Have you seen how far we have to travel this season? It may as well be League Two North! The one change I’d make would be having more permanent backroom staff. Some stability would be nice.

Save the date for Bolton. The year we were promoted to the Football League ( 2010- 11), they finished 14th in the Premier League. Bonkers.

Did you know that during the coronavirus pandemic, we started a food takeaway service from the ground called Crawley Ballerz to raise some cash. The burgers are epic.

Our key player will be Bez Lubala [ above, right], if he stays. Nobody in the 92 took more shots per game last term. He’s way too good for us. The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that you’d struggle to find one who doesn’t love old- school John Yems [ below]. He has brought back the feel- good factor, knows the club inside- out and gets the team firing. If he left, he should be replaced by

Dannie Bulman. At 41, this could be his last season on the pitch. To put it bluntly, I’m not ready to let go.

We’ll finish 8th.