Boss Dean Saunders admits the sacking of his friend Danny Wilson could hinder Crawley’s survival hopes.

Wilson and assistant Chris Hutchings were axed by Barnsley yesterday ahead of their trip to the Checkatrade.com Stadium tomorrow.

Saunders played alongside Wilson and Hutchings for two years at Albion in the 1980s and also played under Hutchings at Bradford.

It is the second weekend in a row that Reds have taken on a side who have just dispensed with their manager after losing 2-1 at Yeovil last Saturday following the exit of Gary Johnson. Saunders said: “I’m disappointed because I know Danny and Chris really well and no one likes to see people lose their job.

“It’s a shame but I am just worrying about us. We have got to use the fact they have just lost their manager as a positive.

“They’ll probably change a few players and what can happen is that they get a new lease of life. Sometimes players don’t realise the situation the club is in until a manager leaves and when a new one walks through the door they get an extra yard from somewhere.”

Wilson paid the price for a poor run of form which had seen Barnsley take just 13 points from their last 13 league games to slip to 17th in League One.

Academy coach Mark Burton and development coach Paul Heckingbottom have been placed in caretaker charge tomorrow as Barnsley bid to end a run of six consecutive away defeats.

Meanwhile, Saunders has been boosted by the news that Lanre Oyebanjo has shaken off the hamstring injury which forced him off at half-time against Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night while Dean Leacock is in contention to return from a groin injury which has sidelined him since Boxing Day.