Former Cray Wanderers boss Neil Smith has been speaking for the first time about the events that took him into Football League management for the first time as Scott Lindsey’s assistant at Crawley Town.

Smith admitted that no one was more surprised with the events that saw him leave Flamingo Park than the man himself as he spoke to KSN.

“The old adage that football is a funny old game certainly applies to the end of last week! Thursday I was taking training with Cray at eight o’clock in the evening getting ready for Bowers & Pitsea at home and within 24 hours it’s Bristol Rover at Crawley Town with Scott – you couldn’t really contrast it any more.”

“It was out of the blue, a shock, but an opportunity that I couldn’t miss – being my age you don’t get many chances to coach at a League One club and coach with someone who I have a great admiration for!” 

“I have always stayed in touch with former team-mates at Gillingham in respect of keeping in contact with each other’s families and Christmas and the like.”

“And I literally got a phone call out of the blue from Scott and we met for a cup of coffee to see how families were, especially after what happened to Scott at MK Dons, no more than that.”

“Literally got another call on Thursday asking if I’d be interested if something happened, no more than that!”

“Then by Thursday night Scott spoke to me saying that he’d sorted out a return to Crawley and wanted me to go with him, pretty much there and then.”

“So, eight o’clock I was coaching at Flamingo Park, by half ten, eleven o’clock I was at Crawley having negotiations and by eight thirty Friday morning we started at Crawley.” 

“I have to thank Gary Hillman (the Cray Chairman) as he was brilliant. Obviously disappointed, but fully appreciated that it was something that I couldn’t turn down.”

“I think I gave everything that I could have at Cray in the three years I was there – from keeping them up, to getting into the Play Offs, to sustaining League status in very difficult conditions.”

“I think Gary saw how hard I had worked for the Club – I am thankful to Gary and Michael Paye for giving me the honour of being the manager, but also the honour to let me go and improve myself at a League Club.” 

Smith has been replaced for now at least by his assistant and good friend Tim O’Shea. “It was difficult breaking the news to him as he is a very good friend of mine and he’s been brilliant.”

“We have known each other since I was 18 at Tottenham in the reserves when he was in the first team, we were then team mates at Gillingham – we live round the corner from each other and have been in each other’s pockets.”

“We’ve coached at Lewes, we’ve been at Croydon Athletic and to getting back together was amazing and having that opportunity to work with Tim for the three years we did, and I think that he is a fantastic manager and coach in himself, so it would be nice if he were to stay at Cray and keep things going.”

“It was difficult having the conversation as he is absolutely delighted for me as he would be as a friend, but absolutely gutted as we thought of ourselves as a coaching team to go and do something really special at Cray Wanderers.”

“He’s now got his chance and had a great 4-0 win over Bowers, and they have Dover this week and here’s hoping for another three points for him!” 

“I really want to say thank-you to everybody at Cray. From the day that I walked in they have been very supportive… yes there has been some difficult times obviously, but they have always clapped us off and been supportive and we have given them something to cheer about!”

“The honour of being able to lead them out at their new home at Flamingo Park – they are only going to grow, and that Club is going to be amazing with all the plans that Gary and Michael have for this Club.”

“I can honestly see it getting bigger and better and I would also like to thank every single player who played for me whether it be for one game or like Nyron on hundred, Shawn Rowley one hundred and forty – thank you all, you’ve committed to us on opinions whether they play or not! They have come in with the right attitude and I’d like to thank them too…” 

Picture supplied by Jon Hilliger.