Crawley have been handed extra room to manoeuvre in their quest to sign a senior striker.

But head coach Dermot Drummy is keeping the identity of his top target under wraps.

Reds are in a stronger position to beat off opposition for a new goal-getter after selling Gwion Edwards to Peterborough for an undisclosed six-figure fee.

They will receive the first of two instalments from Posh imminently and, while it will not change their striker target, it will reduce the chances of them missing out.

Reds fans are still hoping to see Rhys Murphy, last season’s on-loan sensation, rejoin the club from Oldham.

Drummy said: “We are trying to bargain and we know players can get higher money. Milan Lalkovic has just gone to Portsmouth (from Walsall) and I don’t think we are in that bracket of wage structure.

“We know where we are but, if we can maybe get additional funds to offer a marquee signing some more money, we will do that. It gives us more scope.”

Drummy has made it clear he needs to wait for events to develop elsewhere before he can bring in his man. That could refer to Oldham’s ongoing search for a manager – with former Sheffield Wednesday striker Shefki Kuqi now favourite to land the job.

The Lancashire club are in s ate of limbo and the start of their pre-season training has been postponed from tomorrow until Monday.

Whoever takes charge at Boundary Park and whatever Murphy’s destination, the Shoreham-born frontman is not expected to stay at Oldham.

Drummy has made no secret of his admiration for the player he had as a youngster at Arsenal. But he has said no more than that.

He added, speaking in general terms about the unidentified player he has targeted: “If the situation arises that we can get him, we are ready. We have just got to get the okay from the player and the okay from the club. We are waiting and watching a situation.

“We have a budget and we are working to our budget. But the budget has increased and, when we get the money for Gwion, we know we can go up. But we can’t go over budget, that’s for sure.”

Drummy revealed Reds were priced out of a deal for a centre-back he had hoped to wrap up this time last week. But he has two alternative targets.

Crawley assessed hopefuls at a trial last night and some could feature in their opening friendly at East Grinstead a week on Saturday.

Meanwhile Reds' game at Leyton Orient on Boxing Day is now a 1pm kick-off.