Steve Evans insists that Crawley’s star players will only be allowed to leave when the time is right.

Reds rejected “sizeable” bids for three key members of the squad before the loan deadline passed on Thursday evening.

Strikers Tyrone Barnett and Matt Tubbs, left, have been subject to speculation all season while the likes of Kyle McFadzean, Sergio Torres and Hope Akpan have also attracted interest.

Evans said: “We have got some top players and I have never hidden my belief that some will go on to play at a higher level. But that won’t happen until the time is right for the both the player and for Crawley Town.

“Every player has his value but none of the offers have been at that level yet. Clubs will go away and rethink for when the window opens in January but the offers we turned down this week were already good ones and the players are on sizeable contracts so that doesn’t bother me.”

Reds travel to Rotherham United today bidding to extend their unbeaten run to 12 games and Evans admits that success on the pitch will help the club keep hold of their prized assets.

He added: “Our aim is to get into the play-offs and if we achieve that I don’t see why anyone would want to leave as this is a club that is going place.”