Richard Barker New Crawley Town Favourite

The Crawley Town manager search has changed hands once again with Bury boss Richard Barker emerging as the new favourite in the betting. The Sussex club have endured a difficult time searching for a replacement for Sean O’Driscoll, who stunned the League One side last month when he suddenly left for Nottingham Forest, having only taken charge of Crawley in May.

Since O’Driscoll’s surprise departure there have been a number of managers in the mix for the vacancy, including former Notts County gaffer Craig Short, Aldershot manager Dean Holdsworth, Sheffield United academy director John Pemberton and former Watford boss Sean Dyche. Barker can currently be backed at 1/4 with Sky Sports in the Next Crawley Town Manager Market, while the previous frontrunner, Short, is next in the running at 11/4. Mark Robins, Mark Yates and Sean Dyche can all be backed at 16/1.

Barker officially took charge of Bury in June 2011 after impressing in his role as caretaker manager at the end of the previous season. The 37-year-old took interim charge of the club in April 2011 following Alan Knill’s move to Scunthorpe United. Barker inspired Bury to six consecutive wins as they went on to win promotion to League One. His impact did not go unnoticed as he was awarded the League Two Manager of the Month for April. Barker went on to lead Bury to a 14th place in his first season in the dugout.

The players certainly haven’t been affected by the club’s on-going search for a new manager, with three pre-season wins since O’Driscoll’s departure. Crawley have beaten both Peterborough and Millwall from the Championship, with a win against Three Bridges sandwiched in between.