Hollins I've got no hard feelings towards Crawley
7:42am Friday 11th April 2008
FORMER boss John Hollins insists he has no hard feelings towards Crawley.
Hollins will return to Broadfield Stadium tomorrow with his current club Weymouth for the first time since he was surprisingly sacked in 2006.
The one-time Chelsea manager was axed out of the blue by former owners Chas and Azwar Majeed following an FA Cup exit against Lewes.
He helped Reds overcome financial problems to beat relegation in the previous season and stayed faithful to the club during administration.
Hollins is desperate to take three points from his former employees but not because of anything that happened during his time with the club.
He said: "A lot of water has passed under the bridge since I was there. There are different people in charge and different players.
"I had a good time at Crawley, they were difficult times but we got through it and I like to think we helped to keep them where they are today. But that has all gone by the board now and I'm at a different club.
"The supporters were always good to me and it will be quite strange going there and standing in the away dug-out.
"But I will go there as I always do and want to win. Not because it is Crawley but because I want to win every game."
Hollins has experienced mixed fortunes since taking over at Weymouth at the end of January.
The Terras sit a place above the relegation zone on goal difference after winning two and drawing five of his first 14 games in charge.
Hollins said: "I was at Crawley when we were fighting to get out of the relegation zone and I'm doing it again so nothing has changed there.
"We got them (Crawley) out of it and had a brilliant run and hopefully we can do the same thing at Weymouth. I saw Crawley on television a couple of times and they are a very good side so it is going to be difficult."
Crawley's inconsistency emerged again in midweek when they lost 3-0 at Histon, three days after thrashing York 6-1.
Weymouth defender Trevor Challis said: "If we can fight and battle and show a bit more belief we will stand a good chance of getting something because Crawley have been a bit gung-ho of late.
"They either score a lot of goals or concede a load. Hopefully it will be the latter on Saturday."
Reds boss Steve Evans is looking for a response from his side following Tuesday's disappointment in Cambridgeshire.
He said: "We will bounce back. Weymouth will be a tough test because they are fighting for their lives but we want to put points on the board and end the season on a high."
Crawley: Ashley Bayes, Tyrone Thompson, Bradley Thomas, Keiran Murphy, James Krause, Thomas Pinault, Dannie Bulman, Lee Blackburn, Ryan Hall, Pierre Joseph-Dubois, Jon-Paul Pittman.
Subs from: Jamie Stevens, Glenn Wilson, Mustapha Carayol, Jamie Cook, Paul Raynor.
Weymouth: Stephen Henderson, Chris Blackburn, Matt Bailey, Kyle Critchell, Nick Crittenden, Simon Weatherstone, Anton Robinson, Mark Convery, Stuart Beavon, Michael Malcolm, Scott Doe Subs from: Trevor Challis, James Coutts, Jonathan Stewart, Franklin Anzite, Justin Roberts.
tom.gurney @theargus.co.uk