Alan Mullery today denied any involvement in Crawley's decision to axe assistant manager Dave Swindlehurst.

Reds only confirmed yesterday that Swindlehurst, who had been manager Francis Vines' No.2 for two-and-a-half years, had been relieved of his duties on Monday.

The club have made a disappointing start to their second season in the Nationwide Conference and are second from bottom with just one win ahead of tomorrow's home game with second-placed Grays Athletic.

But Mullery insisted that his appointment as football consultant to the club's new owner last week and the departure of Swindlehurst a few days later are coincidental.

He said: "I wasn't involved and I wasn't there when it took place.

"I couldn't go hiring and firing people within a few days of being involved in the club, I didn't know Dave well enough for that."

Paul Hobbs, spokesman for the club's owners, wouldn't add to a carefully-worded statement which said that Swindlehurst had been relieved of his dutes and thanked him for his services.

And he said there were no plans "at present" to appoint a new assistant manager.

Director of Football Steve Duly said that he had been told not to comment and Vines refused to elaborate on Swindlehurst's departure.

"I don't really want to add to the statement," said Vines. "Do I feel under any more pressure? It's a hard one because you are always under pressure to get results but I don't feel any worse than Terry Burton at Aldershot or Nigel Clough at Burton Albion."

Swindlehurst was unavailable for comment but skipper Ian Simpemba admitted the players felt some responsibility for his departure.

"What's happened to him is upsetting for us as players. But after the start we've had and the position we are in nothing surprises me," he said.

And he said there were no plans "at present" to appoint a new assistant manager.

Director of football Steve Duly said that he had been told not to comment and Vines refused to elaborate on Swindlehurst's departure.

"I don't really want to add to the statement," said Vines. "Do I feel under any more pressure? It's a hard one because you are always under pressure to get results but I don't feel any worse than Terry Burton at Aldershot or Nigel Clough at Burton Albion."

Swindlehurst was unavailable for comment but skipper Ian Simpemba admitted the players felt some responsibility for his departure.

"What's happened to him is upsetting for us as players. But after the start we've had and the position we are in nothing surprises me," he said.