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“‘I’ll Be Reporting Back to Brighton’ – Crawley Boss Praises Loan Star’s Maturity and Class After Bold Line-Up Call”
Crawley Town manager Scott Lindsey has heaped praise on teenage loanee Kamari Doyle for his maturity and attitude, after making the tough decision to leave the 19-year-old out of the starting XI during Monday’s crucial 3-1 victory over Exeter City.
The Easter Monday win at Broadfield Stadium breathed new life into Crawley’s survival fight in League One. With just two fixtures remaining, they now trail safety by three points, after results elsewhere – including losses for Burton Albion, Bristol Rovers, and Cambridge United – went their way.
Bradley Ibrahim missed the match due to suspension, while Doyle, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, was rested after showing signs of fatigue in Friday’s game against Birmingham. Midfielders Max Anderson and Gavan Holohan were brought into the line-up in their place.
Explaining the decision, Lindsey said:
“I felt Kam looked exhausted on Friday. He’s still a teenager and has played a lot of football this season. It looked like it finally caught up with him, so I decided to freshen things up. It was about having energy on the pitch, especially given the quick turnaround between games.”
Despite the setback, Doyle showed remarkable professionalism, accepting the decision with grace and understanding. Lindsey praised his response, adding:
“His attitude was absolutely first class. When I spoke to him about the decision, he handled it with real maturity – and that’s something I’ll definitely be feeding back to Brighton.”
Doyle, whose loan deal runs until the end of the 2024-25 campaign, has been a standout performer in League One. With six goals and four assists in just 19 appearances, he briefly led all teenagers across the top four divisions for goal involvements. After his brace against Rotherham, Crawley’s official X account cheekily asked Brighton, “How much?” in a now-viral post.
Meanwhile, Holohan, who stepped in for Doyle, was lauded for his strong showing despite limited minutes this season. “Gav has been an incredible professional,” Lindsey said. “Whether starting or not, he’s always a positive presence in the dressing room and is desperate to help us survive.”
Anderson also earned praise after stepping up in Ibrahim’s absence. “Max has been outstanding,” Lindsey added. “He’s waited patiently for his chance and took it brilliantly today.”
With the fight for survival heating up, Crawley Town will need their full squad to step up — and players like Doyle, Holohan, and Anderson look ready to rise to the challenge.
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