Chief executive Michael Dunford has reiterated Crawley Town’s ambition to finish in the top half of League One after revealing the club has one of the eight largest playing budgets in the division.

Dunford has gone public on the size of Crawley’s budget in response to claims from former boss Richie Barker that his sacking was harsh considering the financial restrictions he was working under.

Barker, who has since become Portsmouth manager, regularly complained about the lack of finances available for him to strengthen his squad and that just keeping Reds in League One was an achievement under the circumstances.

Dunford has rubbished those claims and has revealed the club’s board and benefactors have personally injected £1.5 million into Crawley to boost the playing budget over the past year.

And he also confirmed further funds will be made available to new manager John Gregory to strengthen when the transfer window opens in January.

Dunford said: “The Football League have published a benchmarking report and we feel our supporters deserve to know the headline facts regarding our position.

"This very useful tool allows me the opportunity to dispel any myths that this club spends any less on its playing budget compared to the majority of others in our division. It confirmed, as we believed to be true, that we have a top eight budget in terms of players’ wages in League One.

“The Board and our benefactors have personally injected over £1,500,000 this year to supplement the playing budget to ensure the club continues to be progressive. Our football club is within the 60% limit of the SCMP (Salary Cap Management Protocol) imposed by the Football League thanks to these donations.

“Crawley Town Football Club’s ambitions this season has always been to finish in top half of the table and, considering our budget, we believe it’s a fair expectation. In January, funds will be made available for John Gregory to improve the squad.”