CRAWLEY Town boss Mark Yates is set to sign a ready-made replacement for Luke Rooney today after telling the rebel midfielder he will never play for him again.

Reds have threatened to terminate Rooney’s contract after he failed to inform the club that he was travelling to America for a trial with Arizona United last week.

The 25-year-old former Swindon and Gillingham winger is understood to have been offered a contract by the United Soccer League outfit after playing 45 minutes in a pre-season game on Saturday.

Yates, right, has confirmed that Rooney did not have permission to miss training and his absence meant the Reds boss was only able to name five substitutes – including Lanre Oyebanjo who was not considered fit enough to come on – for the 1-1 draw with Plymouth last weekend.

Rooney’s impending departure has freed up funds to strengthen the squad with Yates confident of signing a free agent who can play on the wing or in the centre of midfield ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Leyton Orient.

Yates said: “Luke has let a lot of people down at the football club.

“I can’t say too much until the situation is resolved but I am very disappointed with the way he has gone about things.

“I’ve told him he has got two options. He can come back and not play here or stay over there and we will terminate his contract but he won’t play for me again even if I only have 11 fit players to choose from.”

Crawley will be boosted by the return from injury of striker Matt Harrold tomorrow while Yates has hinted that Oyebanjo – who underwent knee surgery during the summer – could feature for the first time this season after coming through 90 minutes unscathed in a friendly against Eastleigh on Tuesday.

Yates added: “Banj did really well so it is nice to have him back in the fold. He’ll definitely be on the bench again but he is desperate to play and if we felt that was the right thing to do we would consider it.”