Crawley manager Francis Vines does not know whether he will be handed an increased playing budget following the takeover of the club.

Sussex-based company The SA Group this week announced they had bought Reds from owner John Duly and will invest £2 million over the next three years.

The new owners have already outlined their intention for the Reds to go full-time within two years.

But Vines said: "It has got nothing to do with me so I don't have anything to say about it. I don't know what it will mean in terms of the playing budget."

Vines is hoping to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season and was running the rule over 18 trialists at Crawley's first pre-season friendly at Horley last night.

Four were on target in a 5-1 win - former Albion trainee Ben Watson, ex-Wycombe midfielder Lewis Cook, Yan Boateng and Freddy Shnerdfeger - as well as new signing Lee Elam, who joined last week from Morcambe.

Among the other trialists were Ben Fillery and goalkeeper Chris May, who were released by Albion at the end of last season, plus former Manchester United reserve striker Marc Whiteman, who is looking for a new club after leaving Lewes.

Vines said: "Some of the trialists did okay but I'm not sure if some of the others are of a good enough standard or are better than what I have already got."

Elam was making his first team debut alongside former Nottingham Forest and Darlington midfielder Richard Hodgson, who signed as a free agent last month, and Vines was impressed by his new recruits.

He said: "Richard is a neat player and showed some very good touches.

"We told Lee to go out and show some of the things he can do to please the fans and he did well."

Vines will make a decision on the trialists before Saturday's friendly against Steve Ckaridge's Millwall at the Broadfield Stadium.