A management switch in League 2 has seen former Gillingham player and Chatham boss Scott Lindsey take over at Crawley Town.

Lindsey was manager at play-off chasing Swindon but has moved clubs and is straight into a fight to avoid relegation with his new side Crawley. He takes former Gills assistant Jamie Day with him as his no.2.

It’s been a move that’s rumbled on since before the weekend as both clubs needed to agree a compensation package. That’s now in place and Lindsey will be heading to Priestfield soon when Crawley make the trip to Gillingham on Saturday, February 4. It could be a full-house at Priestfield after the club announced fans could ‘pay what they can’ to watch the match.

Crawley had been looking for a new manager after sacking their last one just 32 days into the job. Lindsey is their fifth person in charge of the team this season and takes over from Darren Byfield - the former Gills striker - who had been taking the reins on a caretaker basis.

Carl Laraman - the former Arsenal and Charlton coach - could be joining Lindsey and Day at Crawley. He worked alongside Lindsey at Chatham Town as a director of football and was an aid at Swindon.

Crawley sit 21st in the League 2 table - eight points above the Gills.

Following his move, Lindsey said: “I am delighted to finally get the deal done and over the line. I am straight to work on the training ground tomorrow (Thursday). They are a great group of lads, and I look forward to working with them.

“When Crawley put the approach in to Swindon, I was immediately excited and wanted to see what it was all about. It was clear to see the plan that Chris [Galley, the chief executive] and the owners have in place and how they want to move the club forward.

“It is clear to see that this is a progressive club who are only looking to move forward. I look forward to meeting all of the fans on Saturday and getting stuck into the challenge.”

He leaves a Swindon side sitting just outside of the play-off places on goal difference, eighth in the table.