Crawley’s players have been told to cut out booze and unhealthy food over the festive period.

New boss John Gregory has laid down the law to his squad about the way they look after themselves as he bids to revive the club’s fortunes following a run of eight games without a win in League One.

Gregory – who banned booze from the players’ lounge when he was Aston Villa manager – feels his players need to improve their diets to enable them to cope with the high-tempo style he wants to introduce.

Reds begin a gruelling schedule of seven games in the space of three weeks when they take on Preston North End at home and Gregory says anyone over-indulging will be found out.

Gregory said: “This is going to be an exceptionally busy period and there is a big responsibility on the players to look after themselves in between matches and training sessions.

“There is high tempo side to the game I want us to play so people have to be fit.

“They are in very good shape already but I just want to step it up a little bit.

“You have to prepare yourself all the time for the next game. You have to fuel up properly after matches with food and liquids and it has to be the right liquid and right food.

“To be a good professional that is what you have to do. There has got to be a huge amount of trust between me and the players but I believe we have that understanding with each other.”