00:00Lily, thank you for joining us. You obviously join us here in sort of difficult circumstances,
00:06but you've had a fabulous day. Firstly, after your first day of training, how was the squad
00:12and how's the preparation for the weekend?
00:14I think the preparation today, the atmosphere with the group was good.
00:19It was difficult circumstances, a lot of change, a lot of people from the industry
00:26sometimes brought a little bit of confusion, a lot of repeated messages,
00:32quite a bit of insecurity, but I must say that the group were very professional today.
00:39Took on the information, spoke about the situation with Rob first thing this morning
00:44and then we made clear that we had to draw a line under that and focus on today's training
00:49being the best it could be, working into the preparation for Bristol.
00:52So, yeah, mindset, atmosphere is as good as it can be. I know that there's a large percentage
01:02of the boys that are disappointed that Rob's gone because they backed him and were all in
01:09on how he wanted to play and what the project was here, but we've had that reaction.
01:13The preparation went well today and we're building towards Bristol.
01:18Yeah, it's just how we do. To a certain extent, have to draw a line under the circumstances,
01:22but obviously, just a line of wrong from yourself. You've worked with him since he arrived here
01:28and you've obviously worked with him before that as well. He was someone who gave his all
01:31for this football club and it's a shame that things didn't work out, but as you touched on there,
01:34that's football and we have to move on. It may not have gone his way in the period that he was here,
01:40but it was certainly not through the want of trying, as he would always say.
01:43Yeah, for sure. Rob's played at the very highest level for a very long time and he knows how ruthless
01:52and how football is in the professional game. He's a fantastic human being, someone who always
02:01looked for the best in people, always tried to live up to people's strengths and to play on their strengths
02:07instead of wasting energy and time on focusing on weaknesses. He was all in on this football club
02:14and I think his lasting legacy will be that togetherness that he brought for the group.
02:22The improvements that we did make on the pitch in terms of how we effected the goal more,
02:27how we tried to be adaptable in our approach towards games. We focused on ourselves as much as possible
02:36as well as respecting the opponent. All we can do now is to focus on the next game, be professional
02:44because that's what Rob would have wanted and to stick together because that culture that he tosses
02:49is massive for Rob and it's a fundamental part of how he wants to be a football manager.
02:54I'm sure he'll keep on doing more successful things.
02:57This is your first experience on the coaching side of things and you've taken the role as interim head coach.
03:04In the meantime, do you think it would almost help considering that even towards the start of this season
03:08you weren't involved in the playing squad, you know the emotions that these players will be going through.
03:13Is that going to be a big factor in the coming days as we approach some tough games?
03:16Yes, I'd like to think so. Similar to Rob and the rest of the coaching staff, I'd like to build relationships
03:25and connections with the players to get to know what drives them, to make them feel comfortable in their own skin
03:31so that ultimately they can be the best version of themselves on the football pitch for Crawley Town.
03:35So that experience of not being a player not too long ago at Gateshead and then obviously stepping into
03:43the assistant manager's role here at Crawley with Rob but continuing that philosophy, it'll be fundamental
03:50going forward because the key situation now is that we get a reaction out of the players
03:59and that we go and get the best version of the starting XI, the players on the bench, the guys that are training
04:05and supporting outside the squad, that we get the best version of them because we need to show a reaction from
04:10not just Rob Departon but ultimately where the performance is and the results have been over the last
04:15three to four games. We know we're capable of a lot more so that message will be drilled home in terms of
04:23A. We need more, B. We expect more and we've got to really dig deep to show that desire, show that character
04:30and take real pride and represent this football club in each and every remaining game of this league campaign.
04:37Yeah, as you say, we've still got games of this league campaign coming up and ultimately nothing's been decided yet,
04:43we're not mathematically out of things so for the meantime we'll just be focusing on getting as many wins on the board
04:47as possible and trying to do something special towards the end of the season.
04:51Yeah, for sure. We are going to take every game as it comes. The message and the question I give to the players today is
05:00game by game, do they believe that they're good enough to win games of football at this level?
05:07Do they believe that individually and collectively they are good enough to compete at this level?
05:11And the answer is yes. Where we fell short is probably, not probably, sorry, it is consistency.
05:17We've played some big teams and matched them, maybe not got the result, we've played some big teams, played well and got a result
05:24so it's about showing that consistency and there's an opportunity collectively to represent the football club
05:32but then obviously individual pride and progression of their careers to show that they can not only operate but succeed at this level.
05:41So we're mathematically not relegated, that is not the mindset here with this group.
05:46We will fight at every point and in every game to ultimately put a string of performances and results together
05:55which are consistent, which takes pride in playing for this football club.
06:01Thanks. Louis, how much of a tough decision was it to stay on as interim head coach?
06:06Obviously you're close with Rob and now Rob's gone. Was it an easy decision for you?
06:10Being honest, it was difficult because ultimately Rob's been a long friend, a mentor and then also a manager.
06:20We did discuss it, obviously when the situation arised yesterday and Rob wants the best for me as his friend, as his assistant manager
06:30as well as the coaching team and Rob still also wants the best for this football club
06:34and at this moment in time, continuation, working with the group and trying to get the best out of the players
06:40from a group of staff that know them, that are well versed in how we play and operate at this level
06:47and the games that we've been involved with recently and how we can improve.
06:50That's key and fundamental and Rob knows that so that loyalty and allegiance is definitely there
06:58but also as well, I'm contracted to Crowley Football Club and the way that I see life and how I try to operate
07:05is whichever football club, football team, project I'm a part of, I'm all in.
07:10So at this moment in time, I was the assistant manager yesterday and now I'm an interim head coach
07:16and I'll give it all in that position and also I've got Rob's backing on that because he wants the team, the group, the club
07:23myself and the rest of the coaching team to try and kick on and to provide a positive reaction and to do the best that we can.
07:28Have the owners given you any indication how long this period might be? Will it be a quick appointment or do you know?
07:34There's no indication at this moment in time. Ultimately, the question was are you and the staff happy and comfortable
07:42taking over as interim for as short or as long as that needs to be and the answer was yes.
07:48That's pretty straightforward. Because of the nature of the turnaround before the game, I think myself, the coaching staff
07:55and the football club knew that once we got that decision, the next step is to focus for Bristol and the game on Saturday
08:03and probably just like the mentality that the group of players and staff will take will be reflected in the period going forward
08:12and the situation is we'll just take every game as it comes and that means giving everything in every training session,
08:19in all the preparations, in all the meetings, in every game, taking pride in representing this football club
08:25and trying to perform to a level that satisfies the fans and everyone associated with the football club
08:32and to try and win as many points as possible.
08:35And I'm assuming this is where your ambition lies, becoming a head coach of a league football team?
08:41Yeah, I think so. You know, 24 hours ago I was committed to being assistant manager of Crawley Town,
08:50to be in League One for as long as possible but 100% my aspirations are to operate at the highest level,
09:00whether that's as a coach, assistant manager, interim manager because I've got that desire to always push
09:08and to be outside my comfort zone and to operate at the highest level.
09:11So yeah, I think I am looking forward to this experience, this opportunity, this period of time,
09:21however short or long it is because ultimately I know I'll be better off for it and I'll give it my all.
09:26Yeah, so I'm looking forward to tomorrow and the game on Saturday.
09:30Yeah, just on a different note, Sam mentioned about your playing side, you stopped playing at the end when you joined Crawley.
09:36How much do you miss that?
09:37Yeah, I miss it a lot. I think any player that's then went into coaching or even any coach that has just committed to the journey
09:46in that career long term will probably admit that, or I'll say the large percentage will admit that there's nothing quite like playing out there.
09:55A reflection of the opportunity and how serious it was when Crawley came along was that was a sacrifice I was prepared to make
10:04to be at this football club, to operate at this level, to work with the players in the changing room.
10:10So yeah, difficult decision. I do from time to time join in training to just keep that step going in terms of the playing side
10:22but also you've seen that set up with a lot of Premier League teams where there's a player coach, whether it's the first team,
10:29I know there's a couple of teams even in League One who have a player coach at our level, or whether it's the 21s where there's a more experienced player
10:35that goes in to join in training to keep the standards, to work with the players individually from inside.
10:41So that's a benefit of that. But yeah, it's a sacrifice that was worthwhile to be here and to operate at this level
10:47and yeah, just looking forward to getting better each day.
10:50Yeah, and obviously a big match Saturday. What's your message to the fans going into Saturday's game?
10:55The message from the fans is I know that it's been difficult of recent. It's been a really testing season.
11:02We've stepped up to a new level, to the strongest League One campaign that probably ever has been.
11:08The players need the support more than ever. We're going to give everything.
11:13There will be desire and character from the group of players that represent this football club
11:18and we'll take real pride in playing in front of them and we just want them to be the 12th man to back us
11:23for every minute of that game, for every game between now and the end of the season
11:28to ultimately give the best account of Crawley Town in this League One campaign which remains
11:34and that comes from everyone.
11:36Good luck, thanks.
11:37Thanks very much.
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