Goalkeeper Scott Shearer has urged Crawley to bring their search for a new manager to a quick conclusion.

Reds are expected to name a permanent replacement for Steve Evans by the end of the week with former Doncaster boss Sean O’Driscoll still the clear bookies’ favourite.

O’Driscoll, currently first team coach at Nottingham Forest, distanced himself from the job last week but speculation has increased after Richard O’Kelly – his assistant at Doncaster and Bournemouth – quit as Hereford United manager at the weekend.

Shearer said: “Hopefully something will be sorted out sooner rather than later as whoever comes in has got to start planning for next season. You don’t want to be going into a new league not completely organised.

“I’ve experienced that before at Wycombe when there was a lot of uncertainty about whether Peter Taylor was going to stay. He did in the end but the situation unsettled everyone at the club and we ended up getting relegated.

“Whatever happens I hope Steve (Coppell, director of football) and Craig (Brewster, caretaker manager) stay. Steve has been such a massive influence since he arrived so it would be a shame to lose him.”

Crawley announced that Shearer would be offered a new deal last week but the 31-year-old says he has yet to receive anything concrete from the club. He added: “I would love to stay. Hopefully I’ll hear soon but I suppose the club is trying to sort out the manager’s situation first.”