Dunford admits: We couldn’t afford to keep Lee Fowler

Crawley Town chief executive Michael Dunford revealed the club could not afford to keep Lee Fowler.
Lee Fowler in action SUS-150414-145447002Lee Fowler in action SUS-150414-145447002
Lee Fowler in action SUS-150414-145447002

He spoke with the midfield star last night and was told he had already been made two offers higher than Crawley would be likely to afford.

Dunford said: “Lee gave us the clear impression that he’d already made up his mind to go somewhere else.

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“It could be Chesterfield because he has also followed Dean Saunders around everywhere he has gone.”

Crawley Town FC chief executive Michael Dunford 19-05-2015.; SR1510772. Pic by Steve Robards SUS-150520-135627001Crawley Town FC chief executive Michael Dunford 19-05-2015.; SR1510772. Pic by Steve Robards SUS-150520-135627001
Crawley Town FC chief executive Michael Dunford 19-05-2015.; SR1510772. Pic by Steve Robards SUS-150520-135627001

Fowler has previously played under Saunders at Wrexham and briefly at Doncaster before the former Crawley interim boss plucked him out of Non-League.

He brought him to League 1 Crawley on loan from Conference club Nuneaton Borough.

Fowler became an immediate hit with Reds fans when he came off the bench to hit a stunning winning goal to beat Preston North End 2-1 in January.

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He followed this up with a series of influencial displays which nearly proved enough to save Crawley from relegation.

“I felt he was more comfortable closer to home - Crawley is 3 and a quarter hours away but Chesterfield is just a couple of hours from his home in Flintshire.

“He was quite open, he told us that we wouldn’t be capable of meeting that level.

“We discussed it and decided not to make him an offer. We weren’t going to be used as a whipping boy.

“Mark Yates wasn’t terribly upset about it.”

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Dunford added: “Lee is a likeable lad and did well exceptionally for us, there’s no doubt about that. We wish him well.”

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