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Crawley Town striker Gary Alexander is relishing the opportunity to take interim charge of the side alongside chief scout Martin Hinshelwood.

The duo were handed the reins on Thursday following the sacking of manager Richie Barker the day before.

"It was something I jumped at. At this stage of my career it's something I can't turn down," Alexander, 34, told 91�ȱ� Sussex.

"I will grasp it with two hands until I am told otherwise."

Alexander has balanced his playing commitments this season with coaching courses.

"When you get on these coaching badges you see football in a different light," he said. "Even after games I think about how we could do things better.

"I am learning and everyone needs to start somewhere. What a great thing to be caretaker of a League One club."

Former Leyton Orient, Millwall and Brentford front man Alexander has made 18 appearances for the Reds this season, scoring three goals.

He hopes the rest of the playing squad adapt to him being in joint charge of the team.

"The players know it is the latter end of my career," he said. "I might be back in with them next week but I am sure they will understand and accept decisions I will make.

"We are not creating many chances at the moment and we are a bit low on confidence. It is about me and Hinsh installing that and hopefully we can put one or two in the back of the net."