Steve Evans insists a huge cloud has been lifted from above Broadfield Stadium after Crawley Town paid off the final installment of their £1.4m debt.

The Reds boss admits he "punched the air" in delight when he heard the news even though he never doubted the Creditors Voluntary Agreement would be concluded before the season got underway.

The CVA supervisors, Begbies Traynor, have written to the Football Association and the Conference to confirm that the final balance of funds has been received.

It means Crawley go into the first game of the season at home to Stevenage on Saturday with a clean slate for the first time since the club went into administration last summer.

Evans said: "It is great news and everyone is on a real high. The club is ready to go forward now and it is up to me to get things right on the pitch.

"The Majeeds may have had their critics but they have delivered everything they promised since I arrived and more. I never saw it as an issue otherwise I would not have come in the first place but it is weight off the club's shoulders.

"There has been a lot of doom and gloom about the place because of the CVA but there is no need for it anymore. I expected it to happen but I still punched the air when I heard.

"Now it means the embargoes get lifted and we can continue to strengthen the squad. I'm looking to bring in two or three more loan signings and now players will not be put off joining us because of the financial situation."

Evans hopes Curtis Ujah and David Blackmore will be among those loan signings after both impressed on trial in the 2-1 defeat by Southend on Saturday.

Defender Ujah has recently joined Yeovil Town after being released by Reading in the summer while goalkeeper Blackmore signed a new four-year deal at West Ham this summer.

The Reds boss will also continue to monitor former Reading striker Pierre Joseph-Dubois who caught the eye against Southend. Joseph-Dubois, 19, is looking for a club after being released by Grays in the summer.

Evans added: "I have agreed with Russell Slade to bring Curtis here on loan but we are still discussing the length. It might be a month initially or until Christmas.

"We tried to sign him when he left Reading but he understandably decided to join Yeovil. He is not quite ready for League One but I'm sure he will do well in the Conference.

"David is another we are looking to bring in to compete with Ashley Bayes for the No.1 spot. I get on very well with West Ham's goalkeeping coach Ludek Miklosko and I think something will happen this week."

Evans was less impressed with the sending off of Thomas Pinault who will now miss the opening three matches of the season through suspension.

Pinault was shown a straight red for kicking out at Alan McCormack at the end of the first half, an incident which sparked a brawl which led to the dismissal of Southend's Richie Foran. Tony Scully also picked up a knee injury and is doubtful for the opening game against Stevenage.

Evans said: "It was handbags really. You wouldn't usually expect him to get sent off in a pre-season friendly but he will be dealt with and his pay packet will be significantly lighter.

"Apart from that we performed very well against a side which has serious ambitions to get into the Championship and with a bit more luck and better finishing we could have won."