Crawley Town midfielder Josh Simpson has spoken for the first time about being placed on the transfer list and admitted: “I can have no complaints”.

Simpson was the most prominent of a group of five players who were told they could leave the club three weeks ago as manager John Gregory reacted to a series of disappointing performances.

The 27-year-old was also stripped of the role of club captain he had taken great pride in performing since taking over the armband from Gary Alexander in February 2013.

Simpson says both decisions came as painful blows and added to the despair he has felt during a frustrating season which has seen him make just six appearances due to injury.

But the former Peterborough midfielder admits neither came as a complete shock and accepts that Gregory had to do what he felt was right for the welfare of the team.

Simpson said: “I am fully aware that I haven’t contributed enough to the team this year so I can’t complain too much in that respect. The gaffer has got to look after the team and if he feels he needs to move some players on to bring in others then that’s fair enough.

“The only thing I feel a little bit hard done by about is that I haven’t played a game when I have been fully fit this season. That is the only part of the situation that I have an issue with but injuries are part of football so you’ve got to get on with it.

“I was gutted to lose the captaincy as it was an honour to wear the armband but you need to be playing regularly and I haven’t been doing that. I can see the gaffer’s thinking but at the same time I was upset.

“The way the season has gone and the fact I have not contributed it makes sense for Joe (Walsh) to be captain. He has played the majority of games this season and is the second longest serving player so I can’t argue with that.”

Simpson was one of only two players – along with Walsh – to survive a mass exodus from the Checkatrade.com Stadium during the summer but has been dogged by injuries since damaging ankle ligaments during the 1-0 win at Barnsley on the opening day.

He returned seven weeks later to help Reds beat Yeovil 2-0 but did not feature again for another four weeks after suffering a hamstring problem. Simpson made his comeback in the 1-0 win over Walsall on October 21 and played the next three games but has been sidelined since the FA Cup exit at Yeovil four weeks ago.

The midfielder is still receiving treatment for the injury meaning he missed out on a loan move before last week’s deadline but is hopeful he will be fit before the transfer window reopens in the new year.

Simpson added: “It’s been a really frustrating season for me, being injured. I don’t think I have ever been fully fit and that has been frustrating as since I joined Crawley I have played at least 35 games every season.

“To be out this long has been a disaster. I’m starting to step up my rehab now but I’m not putting any timescale on it. I’d like to think I’ll be available again by Christmas but at the moment I’m just taking it a day at a time.

“I had a niggle since I came back from the ankle injury but I tried to play through it. I was never quite right and maybe I should have pulled myself out but I really wanted to play to help the team.”