Kevin Blackwell appointed interim Crawley Town manager
The club says its search for a permanent manager is at an advanced stage
Crawley Town have appointed former Leeds United and Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell as interim manager on a short-term basis.
The club said he will stay in the role while it concludes its recruitment process for a new permanent manager.
Blackwell will be joined by Jordan Tait, who will serve as assistant coach during this period.
The club said they will take responsibility for first team training and lead the side into Saturday's fixture.
Crawley said Blackwell brings extensive experience of English football, including managerial spells at Leeds United and Sheffield United.
The club also said he has nine promotions as assistant to Neil Warnock, and extensive experience of rescuing relegation-threatened clubs.
Crawley said the search for its next permanent manager is at an advanced stage.
The club said it has interviewed a number of strong candidates, identified its preferred targets and is working towards finalising the appointment.
A statement from KB Sports and Leisure said: "We understand our supporters' frustration with how the season has started, and we share their determination to see Crawley move forward."
It also said: "We have made significant progress in recruiting our next permanent manager and are working hard to conclude that process. This is an important appointment for the club, and we want to give our chosen manager the best possible foundation to succeed."
The statement added: "We're grateful to them both for stepping in and to our supporters for continuing to stand behind the team. We need everyone pulling together as we begin this next chapter."
The club said it will provide a further update as soon as the permanent managerial appointment is confirmed.