Crawley will cast their net far and wide in their search for Billy Smith's successor.

The club are planning a nationwide advertising campaign and expect to name their new manager by the middle of February.

Reserve team boss Francis Vines was placed in temporary charge when Smith resigned on Wednesday after three years and three months in charge.

Managing director Steve Duly wants Vines to apply, but Crawley are likely to go for a more experienced man.

Duly said: "Crawley is one of the biggest jobs in non-league because of our crowds, catchment area and facilities and I'd be disappointed if the quality of applicants didn't reflect that, we expect a healthy response.

"We are looking for someone with experience at a good non-league level who has good contacts and a track record of success.

"But Francis has proved his competence with the reserves and I'd be happy to receive an application from him.

Applications close on January 31 and speculation about who might apply has already begun.

Crawley have rarely appointed someone from within the county, but that might change. Jimmy Quinn and Garry Wilson, who have been successful at Lewes and Eastbourne Borough respectively, could be in the running while Worthing boss Barry Lloyd has applied for the job previously.

Looking further afield, former Dover boss Chris Kinnear seems to fit all the criteria laid down by Duly and would be a popular choice with the fans.

There will no doubt be a raft of applications from ex-pros but Crawley have gone down that road before without success.

For now, Vines is in a position of strength. Crawley's fixture pile-up means he could have up to eight games to prove his worth before the board sit down to appoint the new man.

The 41-year-old retired after a long playing career which ended at Broadfield Stadium in 2000 and took over the reserves at the beginning of last season.

"I have always wanted to do Billy's job and I hoped that one day I would succeed him, but I was hoping it wouldn't be for another year or so," said Vines.

"But when the board asked me to look after it on a caretaker basis I knew if I didn't take the oppportunity I might not get another one.

"Because I have been running the reserves I haven't seen too many games although obviously I see the players twice a week at training and know them well.

"I'll have a better idea of how things are after tomorrow's game, but this is an exciting challenge as any new job is although there is a bit of apprehension as well which is understandable."

The Vines era kicks off at Havant & Waterlooville tomorrow when he will be without the suspended Marc Pullan.