Sutton won't go for broke to land Ryman crown (From Your Local Guardian)

Sutton won't go for broke to land Ryman crown

1:05pm Thursday 11th June 2009 in

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Sutton United boss Paul Doswell insists his new-look squad can win the Ryman League Premier Division, but will not be breaking the bank to do so amid concerns the recession will pinch this season.

Doswell all-but completed his summer transfer activity last week with the capture of striker Bradley Woods-Garness and winger Anthony Joseph from league rivals Billericay and Ashford Town (Mddx) respectively.

Budget constraints meant the Gander Green Lane chief missed out on 30-goal Carshalton Athletic striker Richard Jolly, AFC Wimbledon midfielder Tony Finn and former Maidstone United keeper Andy Walker.

Clubs expected to challenge at the top of the table this season are spending up to £3,000 a month on the wages of a single player, despite the country being in the midst of a recession.

Doswell expects his side to be among the likes of Carshalton, Billericay and Dartford as the front runners for the title this time around, but is confident his men will be able to sustain their challenge regardless of the financial climate.

“There will be a few teams spending big to go for it in the first few months, but you have to question whether they will be able to keep that up beyond Christmas if things don’t go according to plan,” he said.

“Some teams are paying upwards of £400-a-week net for players and if someone wants to singularly fund that as a hobby, I’ve not got a problem with that. You have to ask whether it us sustainable on crowds of around 250 at this level.

“I know the budget I’ve got is good enough and I know we will be a solvent football club whatever happens, which is the right way to go about it.

“This squad can go on and win the league and that is what we are looking to do. If it doesn’t, I’m certain we will go up through the play-offs.”

Doswell, currently on holiday in Spain, is waiting on one more signature having agreed terms with former Millwall, Fisher Athletic and Grays Athletic midfielder Charley Hearn, as he wraps up his dealings before pre-season training kicks off.

He is confident he has the right mixture of familiar faces, new blood, youth and experience to ensure his men avoid the slow start they made to the campaign last season after overhauling the playing staff in the wake of his appointment as boss.

“Apart from three players, every target we went for we got. We had been tracking them all for a while and I’m delighted with the players we have on board,” the manager added.

“By the time I got the job last season a lot players had been snapped up, so we were picking from the best of what was left. We are starting on the front foot this time.

“I’m expecting big things from the players we retained and am looking forward to Steve Watts being that 25-goal a season man we need to compliment the pace we have acquired.”