Billy Smith is hoping Crawley triallist Stewart Holmes might be the man to solve his central defensive problem.

Holmes, signed from Saltdean a few weeks ago, has impressed the Reds boss in training and reserve team matches and is expected be thrown into the first team soon.

The defender was unlikely to get into today's squad at Ilkeston today, but Smith insisted he will be giving him a chance to impress.

He said: "Ilkeston have some extremely strong lads up front, so it would've been a baptism of fire for the lad, but I plan to bring him into the reckoning because he has impressed me.

"I've been looking for a central defender, but because it is such a vital position I'm not going to be rushed into signing any Tom, Dick or Harry. However Stewart has impressed me and I'll definitely be getting him into the side so we can have a proper look at him."

It will be something of a gamble by the Crawley boss if he does put him into a central role. He has usually been accustomed to playing in wide position.

Smith has been talking to experienced Sutton United central defender Paul Harford, but his club are asking for £5,000. Although that fee is within Crawley's reach, the player is due to leave the Ryman League club on a Bosman at the end of the season.

So Smith might well wait and save the club the expense of a transfer fee, although Margate boss Chris Kinnear is also in the hunt for the player.

"It might not be so clever to pay that kind of money for a player who is only a couple of months away from the end of his contract," said Smith. "But I am talking to lots of players. We want to get the right man."

Keith Sharman needs another operation on torn cartilage in his knee. The influential midfielder has bee plagued by it all season and it is unlikely that he will feature in a Reds team again until the end of April.

Meanwhile Smith has blasted Crawley Council for allowing London Broncos to stage a rugby league match at Broadfield Stadium last Sunday.

It put paid to any chances of Tuesday night's Sussex Senior Cup tie against Langney Sports going ahead.

He said: "There's far too many games played on it already. The council has got to have a serious rethink about who they let play I feel sorry for the poor groundsman."