CRAWLEY Town manager Steve Evans said he was “delighted” to have finally signed Richard Brodie – following several aborted attempts to land his man.

The Red Devils boss swooped late to sign last season’s Blue Square Premier joint top scorer after revealing he had received a call on Monday lunchtime from York City chairman Jason McGill about the player’s availability.

With the formal documentation registered at the FA and the Football Conference just three minutes before the 6pm transfer deadline, Evans, right, is now revelling in the capture of the 23-year-old.

Brodie, who has been given the number 29 shirt, is the latest in a slew of signings to have been made at the Broadfield Stadium.

Crawley have spent more than £500,000 in the transfer window and Evans revealed he had been after the Minstermen’s prolific strike for some time.

“We have tried to sign young Brodes since July but on several occasions we could just not make it happen for one reason or another,” he said.

“The deal became live again shortly after lunchtime (on Monday) when I received a call from the chairman at York City.

“I immediately spoke with Bruce Winfield (Crawley co-owner), took instruction and we got the deal done. The lad is a terrific player. He works very hard for the team.

“We are looking forward to working with him and he comes into a football club who are looking to progress over the next few years.

“Brodes was last season’s Conference Premier player of the year.

“That was voted for by all the managers and I was one of them. He won by a landslide.

“The boy was also joint top goalscorer in the Blue Square Premier with our own Matt Tubbs. I am just delighted. He is a great signing.”