By Pete Oliver

Crawley name Hollins as boss

If enthusiasm is any yardstick for success, Crawley Town should prosper under the guidance of new manager John Hollins.

The former Chelsea stalwart oozes optimism and is relishing the prospect of getting stuck into the task facing him at the Broadfield Stadium.

"It's great. It's a challenge and a positive challenge," Hollins told BBC Sport.

"Every challenge is different and this is a club which has come out of 'amateur' football straight to professional, which is tough to tackle.

"People say it's easy just to go out and buy 20 players, but it's not as easy as that. But it is the right decision. The chairman has made that decision and we are going for it.

"Going professional is a big start and the aim is to put a club together and put everything in place to go forward. Who's to know where we will take it? But it will improve."

Hollins secured a return to management after Francis Vines paid the price for a poor start to the campaign, which has left Crawley near the foot of the table.

I think the Conference is on a par with League Two John Hollins

Vines led the Red Devils to a highly creditable 12th-placed finish in their first ever season at Conference National level last term.

Unfortunately for him, a poor finish dragged into the new season, with a switch to professional status just before the opening game bringing with it inevitable teething problems.

Vines was axed at the end of October, but with Crawley boasting great potential and excellent playing and training facilities, Hollins was quick to throw his hat into the ring.

The 49-year-old has previously managed at Chelsea, Swansea and Rochdale, as well as working in Scotland and China in further developing a career which took in over 900 playing appearances for Chelsea, Arsenal, QPR and England.

Attempting to establish Crawley as a Conference force seems a long way removed but with Alan Lewer, who has worked at a clutch of Conference clubs, alongside him, Hollins is fuelled with belief.

He said: "Players are players. Clubs are clubs, but you can't have enough information about football. The experience of both of us should take it in the right direction.

Hollins is assisted by former Forest Green Rovers boss Alan Lewer

"The Conference is a great environment with some decent teams and different types and ways of playing to get the same results.

"Take away the Premiership and you have divisions one, two and three, and I think this is on a par with the third division (League Two).

"Look at what Doncaster have done. They are the example that everybody should look at and think 'if they can do it, so can we'."

Hollins, previously a promotion winner with Swansea, is still waiting for his first victory after two attempts but should be encouraged by Saturday's draw at Halifax.

In the meantime, he continues to assess his squad and despite failing with a recent bid for Stevenage striker Anthony Elding, movement in the January transfer window beckons.