Crawley confirm Cox capture

Crawley have confirmed the signing of former Leyton Orient winger Dean Cox on a three-year deal.

The 29-year-old, who was born and raised in nearby Haywards Heath, will be with the club until at least the end of the 2018-19 season.

Cox started his career at fellow Sussex side Brighton, where he came through the youth ranks to make 179 appearances and score 22 goals, before joining Leyton Orient in 2010.

There, he made 279 appearances and scored 59 goals, quickly becoming a fans’ favourite and starring in the O’s side that made the League One play-off final in 2014.

The Reds Head Coach Dermot Drummy said: “I am delighted we have managed to get this over the line and to welcome Dean to Crawley.

“He will give us so many good options. He gets goals, he also gets a lot of assists and he’s a hard working player who gives everything every time he goes onto the pitch.”

Because of new transfer rules in the EFL, Cox won’t be able to make his Crawley debut until the January transfer window opens, as he was released by Orient hours after the summer window slammed shut.

That could mean he is loaned to a non-league side, with Whitehawk previously interested, but Drummy is still delighted to have a man of Cox’s calibre at the club.

He said: “He [Cox] knows a lot of people at the club on and off the pitch which I think will help him settle in and although it’s frustrating that we can’t play him for a while we have the option of loaning him out to a Conference South club.

“We can also arrange practice matches for Dean and, of course, he’ll be training with us as part of the squad.

“The owners and directors and Kelly (Derham) have worked hard to get this deal done and we look forward to welcoming Dean to the club Tuesday.”