Steve Evans turned down a bid for striker Charlie Ademeno before watching him sink Grays with a hat-trick in the space of four minutes.

The offer from an unnamed Football League club was rejected by Evans on his way to the game after the Reds boss consulted co-owners Bruce Winfield and Susan Carter.

But Evans admits he might struggle to keep hold of his prized asset during the transfer window and his value will have shot up after the first hat-trick of his career was scored in four minutes 12 seconds.

Crawley’s improving financial position means they do not have to sell the 21-year-old but every player has his price and MK Dons boss Paul Ince is among his admirers.

Evans said: “I had an offer for Charlie made to me on the way to the game which was totally refused.

“Clubs might think they can just come along and pluck cherries off the tree but I have set a value for Charlie which the directors have backed and this was nowhere near.

“That club had someone at the game and I’d imagine after ten minutes that the club’s representative would be on the phone getting their valuation upped.

“We don’t want that offer upped, we want Charlie Ademeno here so we can build something for next season, although that decision ultimately lies with others.”

Ademeno, who joined Crawley in July on a free transfer from Southend, was rampaging through the home defence while most of the visiting fans were still trying to get into the ground.

Heavy traffic on the M25 also delayed Crawley’s arrival and Ademeno admitted he was not feeling at his best before kick-off.

He said: “I wasn’t confident before because a lot of the team got here late and we only had a 15-minute warm-up. I like to have a long stretch and prepare myself properly before the game but it turned out to be a great start for me.

“I never expected to score the first goal so quickly so to get a hat-trick in six minutes is incredible, I didn’t know what was happening to be honest.

“Every time I scored I looked round at the linesman expecting to be given offside!”

Ademeno struck from close range after two minutes to finish off good work by Calum Willock and then capitalised on a horrible mix-up between goalkeeper Preston Edwards and defender David Obaze to make it 2-0 after five minutes.

Straight from the re-start, Crawley won a corner and when Willock’s powerful header was palmed out by Edwards it fell to Ademeno who completed his hat-trick from close range.

Grays boss Julian Dicks, who knows a thing or two about defending during a long career at the highest level had his head in his hands but he recognised Ademeno’s attributes as much as his opposite number.

Evans added: “Charlie was sensational and Julian Dicks, who had never seen him play before today, was praising his performance afterwards. I would like to think we will still have him at the end of January but the honest answer is I don’t know.”

The only trouble with scoring three goals in the first six minutes is that it still gave Grays time to get back into the game.

Jamie Reid converted a 22nd-minute penalty harshly awarded against Karl Broadhurst and Foje Onibuje made it 3-2 just before the break with a header from Reid’s cross.

But Crawley dug in during a disappointing second half to secure their third successive away win and Ademeno always looked capable of adding to his tally on the counter-attack.

Will Crawley be able to resist a big offer for their prized asset? Who knows but Evans must wish the transfer window was about to shut rather than re-open.

Grays: Edwards, Logombe (sub James 75), Obaze, Hoyte, Bunce, Davis, Hickie, Dean (sub Vernazza 62), Graham, Onibuje, Reid. Subs not used: Crowther, Cissoko, Bull.

Crawley: Rayner 6, Wilson 6, Quinn 6, Broadhurst 6, Rents 6, Malcolm 6, Hutchinson 7, Smith 6, Cogan 6, Willock 7 (sub Killeen 75, 6), Ademeno 9 (sub Pinault 87). Subs not used: Jordan, Napper, Carter.

Referee: M. McLaughlin.

Attendance: 505.