Gus Hurdle will have to take a pay cut if he wants to join Crawley full-time from Basingstoke.

The 26-year-old former Brentford midielder is on a month's loan from the Ryman Leaguers until the end of next week. But manager Billy Smith said Hurdle would have to accept less money to join on a permanent basis.

Smith said: "We couldn't possibly afford to match the wages he's getting at Basingstoke. He's not getting in their side and they were happy for us to take him on loan and pay only half his wages. Gus is under contract there until the end of the season. But if Basingstoke decided to pay up his contract and he was willing to play for less money here then I'm sure we could come to an agreement."

Hurdle has proved a revelation since joining three weeks ago and the midfielder has made no secret of his interest in teaming up with Smith for a longer period. Smith will try to extend the loan either for a month or until the end of the season.

The Crawley boss has no injury doubts ahead of tomorrow's home match with Tamworth.

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