Crawley's Matt Tubbs insists he is trying to ignore speculation about his future after Reds turned down a £250,000 offer for the striker.

After Tubbs had scored his third goal of the season in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Bath City boss Steve Evans revealed that a League One club’s bid had been rejected.

Evans then slapped a £700,000 asking price on the 26-year-old after club owner Bruce Winfield had asked him for a valuation.

Tubbs said: “I wasn’t aware of that £700,000 valuation. As players you accept that things are going on all the time so you have to forget about it.

“To be linked with a League One club and have that price tag on your head is a compliment but you cannot let it get to your head.

“I just ignore it and if I keep getting goals and something happens then we’ll worry about it then.”

Tubbs had a brief spell in the Football League in 2008 when he played on loan at Bournemouth whilst with Salisbury but his chance of a dream move were scuppered when the Cherries changed manager.

“Jimmy Quinn had me and I was going to sign a permanent deal but he was sacked the day before it was due to happen,” said Tubbs.

“It was a bit weird because one minute I set my sights on playing in League Two and the next day I was playing for Salisbury.

“I’d definitely like to play in the league and I don’t think you are ever too old to play at that level. I’m a professional and I look after myself and think I have got a few good years left.

“Steve Evans wouldn’t put together a squad with the calibre of players we have if he didn’t think we could get promoted so it would be great if it happened with Crawley.”

Evans believes there will be no further interest before the transfer window closes next Monday and is intensifying his own efforts to bring in another forward.

He said: “If the club concerned were going to pay £700,000 for him Tubbs wouldn’t probably agree terms!

“They quoted a figure of £250,000 but we said no and the owners asked me for my valuation.

“I only said £700,000 after telling our owners that he had no price.

“We don’t want Matt to go but we are not one of these clubs who say none of their players are for sale. Everyone is for sale at every club from Chelsea down to us if the buying club meets the valuation of the player.”

Evans has already signed 15 new players and spent £330,000 in transfer fees but a bid which would have broken the Conference transfer record for an un-named striker was turned down on Tuesday.

Evans said: “The good thing is that if I find a player that I think will improve is I know what the answer will be from Bruce Winfield and Sue Carter when I try and sign him. They will say ‘go and get him’.

“We are trying but we don’t want to end up targeting players who won’t give the squad anything.

“We have four strikers but it is not enough, you need five if we are going to challenge.

“If you want evidence of that have a look at Stevenage and Oxford’s squads last year.

“We are working so hard to get the right player in. That is testament to the owners and the two investors in Hong Kong who have been absolutely fantastic.”