East Fife’s new boss John Robertson has insisted the door at Bayview will always be open to the man he replaced at the club’s helm.
Stevie Crawford brought his 18-month reign as manager of the Methil club to an end on Monday but remains a registered player, and could yet decide to pull on the black and gold of East Fife again this season.
While former Hearts and Inverness boss Robertson was quickly installed as Crawford’s successor on Tuesday, the new gaffer believes Crawford still has a lot to offer the club on the field between now and May.
“I had a couple of long chats with Stevie and I know Stevie Crawford the player, I know Stevie Crawford the man, and he’s quality all the way through,” Robertson told Courier Sport.
“He’s made a very, very brave decision to step down because he felt that the team weren’t responding and that’s a very hard and brave thing for any manager to do.
“I’ve no doubt it was difficult for him playing a dual role, as a player and manager, because it’s difficult to do both.Very raw”It’s obviously still very raw for him to contemplate playing football after what’s happened I don’t think it would be fair to him and I don’t think it would be fair to his family so I’ve told him to take the week off, to go away with his wife and kids and relax to clear his mind.
“We’ll have another chat next Wednesday and take it forward from there, but if Stevie Crawford decides he wants to stay at the club, I’ve no problem with that at all.
“I know I’ll get 100% out of him-in fact I’ll probably get more out of him because he’ll be determined to show people he’s still got this club very, very much at his heart, and he’ll want to show that it’s still there.
“In the end, if Stevie decides it’s too difficult to come back in then we’ll approach that situation when it comes to it.
“But as far as I’m concerned, Stevie Crawford is very much a part of our team going forward.”
Crawford stepped down as player-boss on Monday of his own accord, although the club decided to part company with his backroom team of Jason Dair and David Westwood to ensure Robertson would have a “fresh start.”