Seems a bit hasty to me. Thought they were certainties for relegation at the start of the season. They've not been hopeless since he arrived, just lacked quality at key moments, which isn't his fault. Staying up this year would have been a huge achievement, going down is not a dismal failure. Hope Robbie gets another job soon. I'd back him to be in League 1 again quicker than Crawley are.
Everyone knew before the season started that Crawley were on a hiding to nothing - relegation favourites before even a ball was kicked. Rob Elliot has tried to give them the best chance of survival, instead of stifling the game but trying to get wins with some decent attacking football.
Plenty of shortcomings, especially defensively. But you can only play the hand you are dealt.
Right now relegation looks likely, Crawley are too far behind safety - so why make a change now? With their spirited attacking philosophy, I would have thought their best chance of coming straight back up from League 2 next season was with Rob Elliot.
There are times when you must give a manager a long enough period to build.
In another dimension Nathan Jones was sacked after the Crawley loss and Rob Elliot is the hottest young manager in football after taking over from the Welshman and steering Charlton to within touching distance of 2nd.
Crawley was a strange choice to leave Gateshead for. Very strange club. Hope he gets a better club next time.
Especially as he seemed so settled in the northeast.
Yes young managers have to take opportunities when they arise, but a false move can set you back badly. Mike Williamson was also successful at Gateshead, but two bad jobs later, his reputation is badly tarnished.
It’s not massively easy to get a league manager job so I’m not surprised he moved. Crawley are a decent club punching above their weight - he lacked resources and the squad is a busted flush.
In the two games against CAFC his team played well compared to their other results: Rob set Crawley up to play passing football but not being strong enough defensively meant they leaked goals in most matches despite only conceding the single goal against Charlton in both encounters.
The snakes and ladders of football management means National league or League 2 will be Elliot's next port of call. A successful 12 months at Gateshead culminated with the lifting of the FA Trophy remains the positive on his CV.
There are by far more qualified coaches who want to go into management than jobs available in the top 3 tiers of the EFL; jobs are available abroad but uprooting the family or living away from the family isn't ideal.
Rob is one of our own and patience as a keeper he had in spades as he only accumulated 196 apps in a 20 year career; Rob spent more time on benches than some high court judges!
I wish him well even if he goes down the ladder for his next job.
In the two games against CAFC his team played well compared to their other results: Rob set Crawley up to play passing football but not being strong enough defensively meant they leaked goals in most matches despite only conceding the single goal against Charlton in both encounters.
The snakes and ladders of football management means National league or League 2 will be Elliot's next port of call. A successful 12 months at Gateshead culminated with the lifting of the FA Trophy remains the positive on his CV.
There are by far more qualified coaches who want to go into management than jobs available in the top 3 tiers of the EFL; jobs are available abroad but uprooting the family or living away from the family isn't ideal.
Rob is one of our own and patience as a keeper he had in spades as he only accumulated 196 apps in a 20 year career; Rob spent more time on benches than some high court judges!
I wish him well even if he goes down the ladder for his next job.
He had a great spell at Newcastle in 15/16 where he was number 1 & was Newcastle player of the year. Unfortunately he done his ACL prior to the 2016 Euros in a friendly for Ireland. Who knows what would have been if it wasn’t for that.
He'd have been better to stay at Gateshead. Crawley is a bit of a basket case.
With hindsight yes but you can't really blame him for taking the chance - it was a chance to take a big step up and if it had worked out he'd have been getting attention even further up most likely - he had the confidence to back himself, sadly it didn't work out.
Hopefully he gets another chance elsewhere soon and doesn't lose momentum.
He'd have been better to stay at Gateshead. Crawley is a bit of a basket case.
After earning good money over all those years at Newcastle he can afford to back himself and not worry about the financial implications of failure. That's a nice position for a young manager to be in.
In the two games against CAFC his team played well compared to their other results: Rob set Crawley up to play passing football but not being strong enough defensively meant they leaked goals in most matches despite only conceding the single goal against Charlton in both encounters.
The snakes and ladders of football management means National league or League 2 will be Elliot's next port of call. A successful 12 months at Gateshead culminated with the lifting of the FA Trophy remains the positive on his CV.
There are by far more qualified coaches who want to go into management than jobs available in the top 3 tiers of the EFL; jobs are available abroad but uprooting the family or living away from the family isn't ideal.
Rob is one of our own and patience as a keeper he had in spades as he only accumulated 196 apps in a 20 year career; Rob spent more time on benches than some high court judges!
I wish him well even if he goes down the ladder for his next job.
He had a great spell at Newcastle in 15/16 where he was number 1 & was Newcastle player of the year. Unfortunately he done his ACL prior to the 2016 Euros in a friendly for Ireland. Who knows what would have been if it wasn’t for that.
I agree: He had at last made a breakthrough at Newcastle and the ROI and the ACL ruined his ambitions.
Sorry to see this by Crawley. Certainly looks hasty as others have said. I don’t see any of current bottom four of League One avoiding the drop; sacking Elliott is not going to change that for Crawley.
He'd have been better to stay at Gateshead. Crawley is a bit of a basket case.
After earning good money over all those years at Newcastle he can afford to back himself and not worry about the financial implications of failure. That's a nice position for a young manager to be in.
Could be he wanted a League job and he wanted to move home and knew there were not multiple opportunities coming his way to achieve both.
Comments
https://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/2025/march/19/club-statement---rob-elliot/
Everyone knew before the season started that Crawley were on a hiding to nothing - relegation favourites before even a ball was kicked.
Rob Elliot has tried to give them the best chance of survival, instead of stifling the game but trying to get wins with some decent attacking football.
Plenty of shortcomings, especially defensively.
But you can only play the hand you are dealt.
Right now relegation looks likely, Crawley are too far behind safety - so why make a change now?
With their spirited attacking philosophy, I would have thought their best chance of coming straight back up from League 2 next season was with Rob Elliot.
There are times when you must give a manager a long enough period to build.
Yes young managers have to take opportunities when they arise, but a false move can set you back badly. Mike Williamson was also successful at Gateshead, but two bad jobs later, his reputation is badly tarnished.
The snakes and ladders of football management means National league or League 2 will be Elliot's next port of call.
A successful 12 months at Gateshead culminated with the lifting of the FA Trophy remains the positive on his CV.
There are by far more qualified coaches who want to go into management than jobs available in the top 3 tiers of the EFL; jobs are available abroad but uprooting the family or living away from the family isn't ideal.
Rob is one of our own and patience as a keeper he had in spades as he only accumulated 196 apps in a 20 year career; Rob spent more time on benches than some high court judges!
I wish him well even if he goes down the ladder for his next job.
Hopefully he gets another chance elsewhere soon and doesn't lose momentum.
I agree:
He had at last made a breakthrough at Newcastle and the ROI and the ACL ruined his ambitions.