Atkinson's return could lead to new striker at Crawley Town

Crawley Town midfielder Chris Atkinson's return to parent club Crewe Alexandra could lead to Reds bringing in a new striker.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Mar 2016, 12:56 BST
Updated 7th Mar 2016, 13:01 BST

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Crawley v Plymouth. Football. Chris Atkinson. Pic Jack Beard DT4A3144 SUS-160222-170612001Crawley v Plymouth. Football. Chris Atkinson. Pic Jack Beard DT4A3144 SUS-160222-170612001
Crawley v Plymouth. Football. Chris Atkinson. Pic Jack Beard DT4A3144 SUS-160222-170612001

Atkinson returned to the League One club today having completed a two-month loan.

Atkinson made seven appearances including five starts after making his debut against Notts County on January 16.

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A statement on the Crawley Town website said: “The club would like to thank Chris for his efforts at the club and wish him all the best for the future.”

Crawley Town V Luton Town - Rhys Murphy celebrates his equaliser (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-151017-171144008Crawley Town V Luton Town - Rhys Murphy celebrates his equaliser (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-151017-171144008
Crawley Town V Luton Town - Rhys Murphy celebrates his equaliser (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-151017-171144008

Crawley manager Mark Yates hinted the funds freed up could create space for a new forward.

He said: “Chris Atkinson will go back after today’s game and so there is one slot left for a player.

“We are speaking to a couple of clubs but the one I want, I can’t quite get at the moment. He is too close to their first team.

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“We have missed a lot of strikers who have gone elsewhere while we haven’t been able to do a great deal.

Crawley Town V Luton Town - Rhys Murphy celebrates his equaliser (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-151017-171144008Crawley Town V Luton Town - Rhys Murphy celebrates his equaliser (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-151017-171144008
Crawley Town V Luton Town - Rhys Murphy celebrates his equaliser (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-151017-171144008

“It is obviously a position we are looking for and if we get the right one then I am more than happy to bring him into the fold.”

Yates revealed that Rhys Murphy will not be making a return after an attempt to bring him back fell through during the January transfer window.

Yates revealed: “We can’t (bring Murphy back). We made a massive play on the last day of the transfer window to bring him in but after that we literally can’t.

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“He would have been dead keen, I spoke to him agent. His agent has phoned me a couple of times.

“But when you have taken a player for the 93 days, you can’t retake them on a loan. It could only be a window to window deal and we have missed that opportunity.

“We would have loved to have had Rhys around the place, but once February 1 passed then it was never a go-er.”

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