Ex-Sheffield United and Derby County star Colin Kazim-Richards set to land EFL job | OneFootball

Colin Kazim-Richards looks set to become Crawley Town's new boss until the end of the season

League Two strugglers Crawley Town are set to appoint former Sheffield United and Derby County forward Colin Kazim-Richards as the club's new manager after the dismissal of Scott Lindsey.

Crawley find themselves at the foot of the EFL, sitting just two points above Barrow in 24th place, with Harrogate Town and Newport County the only other two sides beneath them in the table.

After being relegated from League One last season, the Red Devils looked to solidify themselves back in England's fourth tier with the re-appointment of Lindsey, who had guided them to the third tier initially after defeating Crewe Alexandra in the play-off final in 2024.

However, Lindsey has been unable to find the form in Sussex as he did a couple of years ago, and with the club in serious danger of losing their EFL status, he has been dismissed, with Kazim-Richards being chosen as the person to come in and try to stave the club away from relegation.

Crawley Town are set to appoint Colin Kazim-Richards following Scott Lindsey's dismissal

In what is understandably viewed as a left-field appointment, Crawley are set to name Kazim-Richards as their new manager until the end of the season, as reported by Pete O'Rourke via X.

The London-born former Turkish international has been working as a coach at Arsenal since the summer of 2024, working with the Gunners' youth sides, and is now set to take his first job in senior management with Crawley.

The 39-year-old had a well-trodden career as a footballer, playing in eight different countries across his nearly 20-year journey, playing for numerous EFL clubs such as Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers, and Derby County, the latter of which is the club he made the second-most appearances for across his career, behind only Fenerbahce.

Kazim-Richards finally retired from professional football in 2023 after a forgettable stint back in Turkey with Fatih Karagumruk, and has since begun his journey into coaching with Arsenal.

Now, with no experience of having managed in the professional game, the former forward is jumping into the deep end with Crawley, with the objective of staving the club away from relegation.

Colin Kazim-Richards has no prior managerial experience prior to taking the Crawley Town job

Indeed, as previously mentioned, Kazim-Richards is an unknown quantity when it comes to management, having only ever previously coached youth sides with Arsenal.

Experience in the game is certainly on his side, though whether this translates into the management is yet to be seen.

It's certainly a risk for Crawley, whose status within the EFL hangs within the balance, though the club's owner, Raphael Khalili, believes that the former Turkish star is the right person to guide them away from danger.

The sort of impact he will have remains to be seen, though it's certainly an interesting choice for Crawley, with this decision likely to make Khalili look a genius, or leave him with egg on his face. Either way, it will be interesting to see how this unfolds.