Ashley Bayes

Bayes rejects new Crawley contract

Goalkeeper Ashley Bayes has turned down a new deal with Crawley Town and is expected to sign for Blue Square Premier rivals Stevenage Borough.

The Lincoln-born shot-stopper made 45 appearances for the Red Devils since making the switch from Grays Athletic last summer.

However, he turned down a new deal in favour of a move to Graham Westley's Stevenage Borough.

Manager Steve Evans told the Crawley Observer: "There is no doubt we have kept the players that we wanted to except Ashley Bayes.

"We have achieved this on a prudent and cost effective basis.

"Ashley was terrific for us, a great character and will be missed but given his financial offer from Stevenage Borough he would have been crazy to reject it."

Meanwhile, Evans has released his list of released and retained players.

Tyrone Thompson, Dannie Bulman, Jon-Paul Pitman, Bradley Thomas, Thomas Pinault, Glenn Wilson, Jamie Stevens and Jamie Cook have been retained.

James Krause, Paul Watson, Lee Blackburn and Pierre Joseph-Dubois have been told they can leave the club while loanees Kieran Murphy, Mustafa Carayol and Ryan Hall have all returned to their respective parent clubs.