Crawley chief executive Richard Low says he would not stand in manager Richie Barker’s way if he was offered the Sheffield United job.

Barker has been linked with a move to Bramall Lane – where he spent three years as a youth coach – as the Blades begin their search for a permanent successor to Danny Wilson.

Wilson was sacked last month following a 2-0 home defeat to Crawley with Chris Morgan taking over on a temporary basis but unable to guide the Blades to promotion.

United are expected to begin contacting potential candidates in the next few days and although Low has not received any approach for Sheffield-born Barker yet he says he would grant permission for him to speak to Crawley’s League One rivals.

Low said: “Richie has done a great job for us. We don’t want him to leave but if an opportunity came for him to go to a much bigger club with a salary to match and it was something he wanted to do then we would support him all the way as long as Crawley Town were protected in the deal.

“If Sheffield United did contact us then we would grant permission for Richie to speak to them but I also think he would talk to us and give us a chance to persuade him to stay and carry on his good work.

“We are certainly banking on him staying. He has a two-year rolling contract which we are in the process of changing to put in bonuses and things that Richie wants and hopefully that will be sorted next week.”