Crawley have been forced to sign 11 teenagers just to ensure they can compete in the Conference next season.

The debt-ridden club was put up for sale yesterday after creditors turned down repayment proposals from administrator Rob Sadler.

They cannot sign any players on contract until a new buyer is found so manager John Hollins has had to register a team of youngsters to meet the league's Saturday deadline.

Only five of last season's squad are currently training with the club - Dave Woozley, Ben Judge, Lee Blackburn, Tony Scully and Danny Brown - but they can leave at any time after having their contracts breached.

Crawley will start the new campaign on August 12 with a ten-point deduction as a punishment for going into administration.

Hollins said: "To put the Crawley Town supporters at ease, there will be a team to start the season.

"As far as I know, we have met the deadline and we will be allowed in the Conference.

"That is what they told me to do so it means we will kick-off the season with 11 players in place.

"But none of them are the contracted players, like Lee Blackburn and Ben Judge, who have contracts and want to renegotiate. They all have to be non-contracted players."

Hollins insists he will not walk away from the crisis-club despite the uncertainty over his own future.

He verbally agreed a new contract with the outgoing owners Chas and Azwar Majeed at the end of last season but did not get sign it.

He said: "It is a traumatic time but you have to keep going because if we all stopped then there would be no Crawley Town Football Club.

"Until someone tells me to go home, I will keep working because I don't give up things easily.

"I did the job last year and I had negotiations for a new two-year deal and then the administration started.

"I have been in limbo for a while so I will just carry on doing the job I have been."