Crawley Town have turned to Connor Wickham as they try to find some immediate lift at the foot of League Two, with the 33-year-old striker joining on a short-term deal that runs until early January. Ayman Benarous has also arrived on similar terms, giving the club extra options as they look to steady themselves after a difficult run.
It is a straightforward move from a club that knows the scale of the task in front of it. Crawley sit at the bottom of League Two and, after Saturday’s FA Cup exit to Wimborne Town, the next few weeks now matter even more. Wickham and Benarous have not been brought in for a long-term rebuild. They have been signed to help right now.
Wickham brings experience to a relegation fight
Wickham’s career has taken him through Ipswich Town, Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons, Forest Green Rovers, Cardiff City, Sunderland and Crystal Palace, and he also had a brief spell with Dubai City in the United Arab Emirates last season after leaving Charlton Athletic in May 2024. That history is important here because Crawley are not simply adding a name. They are adding a striker who has seen a range of different environments and levels.
For a side at the bottom of the English Football League, that kind of experience can matter. The challenge is whether Wickham can settle quickly enough to make a difference before the calendar turns. Short-term deals are always a bet on timing as much as talent, and Crawley need both to line up.
Benarous adds another option
Benarous, 23, arrives after being released by Plymouth Argyle in the summer following 12 appearances in League One. Like Wickham, he gives Crawley another body and another potential solution as they prepare for a busy stretch of fixtures.
The immediate focus now is simple. Crawley host Brentford U21 in the Jersey Mike's Trophy on Tuesday before returning to League Two action at home to Fleetwood Town on 21 November. Those matches will give the club a first look at how quickly the new arrivals can settle, and whether these short-term deals can become more than just a stopgap.
