Champions League winning coach Eddie Newton has emerged as a candidate for the vacant manager’s job at Crawley.

Newton was Roberto Di Matteo’s assistant when Chelsea won the Champions League and FA Cup double in 2012 having also been the Italian’s No.2 at MK Dons and West Brom.

The 43-year-old is currently working with Chelsea’s academy but is keen to get his first opportunity in management.

But former Cheltenham manager Mark Yates was last night overwhelming favourite to take over – with some bookies having suspended betting on the Crawley vacancy.

Former Albion boss Micky Adams is also known to have applied for the job along with ex-Seagulls midfielder Danny Wilson.

Chief executive Michael Dunford said: “We have had a lot of good people apply for the job and we have now got it down to a shortlist.

“Interviews have begun and we expect them to be concluded in the next couple of days with the hope there will be an announcement by the middle or the end of the week.”