Crawley Town appoint Rob Elliot as new manager

The Gateshead boss joins on a two-and-a-half year deal

Author: Cam HallPublished 1st Oct 2024

Crawley Town have appointed Rob Elliot as their new manager.

Elliot joins from National League club Gateshead on a two-and-a-half year contract.

He replaces Scott Lindsay, who left last Wednesday to become manager of MK Dons.

Louis Storey and Antony Sweeney, who were part of Elliot's coaching staff at Gateshead, will also join the Red Devils as Assistant Manager and first-team coach respectively.

Elliot spent nearly two decades as a goalkeeper, most notably a nine-year spell at Newcastle United.

He joined Gateshead as Technical Director in August 2022, before becoming Interim Manager in October 2023.

After leading the club to a sixth-placed finish in the National League, and winning the FA Trophy, Elliot became permanent manager in June.

Writing on the club's website, Elliot said the opportunity to manage Crawley was "impossible to turn down."

"It is so exciting to see the way these players play, and I am really excited to get to work with them on the training ground."

Crawley Town Chairman Preston Johnson said the club "couldn't be more assured and optimistic" about Elliot's appointment.

"We’ve had tremendous success over the past year, and as a long-time player and more recently taking over the manager duties at Gateshead, Rob understands what it will take to continue building on that progress.

"We believe his style of play will bring continuity and greatly benefit our players — both on the pitch and in the dressing room — as they continue the current League One campaign."

Johnson was also clear the new manager would not be a "Scott Lindsey 2.0", and that Elliot's appointment is with the long-term future of the club in mind.

"We are bringing him on because he is a hungry young coach who brings plenty of experience and knowledge to the table in his own right, as well as a forward-thinking, data-driven approach to the game that will enable him to make the best decisions for the club and match what we value as an ownership group."

Elliot joins a Crawley Town side that sit in 20th in League One, and without a win in their last five games.

The Red Devils also confirmed Ben Gladwin and Steve Hafner will still take charge against Mansfield on Tuesday evening.