Crawley insist their ambitious plans to build the club remain on track despite the death of co-owner Bruce Winfield.

Mr Winfield, 61, passed away on Monday after battling throat cancer.

A fan for nearly 50 years, he re-joined the board in 2009 and invested thousands of pounds so the club could declare itself debt-free last July.

Crawley then embarked on ‘Project Promotion’ to try to secure Football League status funded by Winfield, co-owner Sue Carter and overseas investors.

Reds are odds-on favourites to win the Conference title and made more than £1m from the best ever FA Cup run in their history which culminated in a fifth round tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Chief executive Alan Williams said: “Nothing has changed. The effect on this club of Bruce’s passing has been emotional not financial.

“The revenue we generated from the FA Cup run has secured the finances of this club for many years.”

Mr Winfield’s wife Silpa played a big part in helping Crawley become solvent, saving the club £70,000 a year in their energy bills.

He added: “Silpa has played a big part in ensuring the on-going financial stability of this club and her commitment will continue.”

Fans left flowers and signed shirt at the Broadfield Stadium yesterday as tributes to Mr Winfield continued. The club have also opened a book of condolence which supporters can sign at the ground. There will be a minute’s applause in his memory before next Tuesday’s game against Mansfield.