Crawley have started the search for a new manager within hours of axing Dermot Drummy.

Club chairman Ziya Eren is keen to bring in a new boss who knows the club and expects an appointment to be made within two weeks.

But he said a decision had not already been made and that three or four candidates would be interviewed.

Drummy, pictured, and assistant Matt Gray left the club less than 24 hours after the Parafix Sussex Senior Cup final defeat to Albion under-23s.

After early promise, they had been unable to make progress on last season’s 20th-place finish despite what Eren said was an increase of 30% in budget.

Experienced striker Matt Harrold took training yesterday and will manage the side at home to Steve Evans’ Mansfield in today’s season-closing home fixture.

Eren is making an end-of-season visit to Crawley from his base in Turkey.

Speaking through an interpreter, the Reds supremo said: “I’ve started to speak to the new candidate. It was only respectful to start talking after I parted company with Dermot Drummy.

“I want to see many candidates. For Crawley Town, I want to find the most important manager to take the club onwards.

“If it could be someone who knows the club and has space in his heart to take the club onwards, this is my personal view.

“Someone who doesn’t know the club or town, I don’t want to take that time for them to adapt.

“I want someone who knows the town, the fans, the expectation, the club.

“There are three or four alternatives that I am reviewing and will be interviewing.

“Within two weeks the management team will be appointed and transfers will be started as soon as possible.”

Eren said he was pleased with the increase in squad size from this time last year and with the improvement in facilities.

He revealed Crawley will have an under-23s team next season and that he is in talks with Crawkey council over improving and expanding the Checkatrade Stadium.