Crawley boss John Gregory admits he is already planning for next season after signing young wingers Jeffrey Monakana and Gwion Edwards on loan yesterday.

Consecutive defeats have left Crawley’s already slim play-off hopes hanging by a thread and forced Gregory to readjust his sights when it came to reinforcements.

The Reds boss has not completely given up on finishing in the top six but the decision to bring in Monakana and Edwards just before the deadline underlines the fact he already has one eye on next season. Gregory said: “We are looking to rebuild for next season and this obviously gives us the chance to look at them and see whether they tick the boxes or we can cross them off the list.

“If they do well then maybe we would try to take them permanently or on loan in the summer so it is a good opportunity for them to show what they can do.

“If we were actually in the top six we would probably have gone for slightly more experienced players but where we are in the league we have had to lower our sights a little bit.

“We could have afforded to gamble a bit more financially if we were closer to the play-offs but bringing in two young lads doesn’t really cost us an awful lot.”

Edwards and Monakana both go straight into the squad for tomorrow’s League One game at Preston and will be available for nine games in total during their month at Crawley.

Monakana made 49 appearances for North End before leaving to join Albion in January for an undisclosed fee and also spent a spell on loan at Colchester earlier in the season.

Edwards, a Wales under-21 international, has yet to force his way into the first team at Swansea City but played 17 games on loan at St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership this year.

Gregory added: “Eddie likes to play on the left even though he is right footed and has got a bit of pace about him while Jeffrey is a natural right winger so it gives us options.

“I do like to play with wide men and that has been something we have been missing a little bit since Nicky (Adams) left (in January to join Rotherham).”