New boss blasts United's fitness

10:27am Wednesday 9th April 2008

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New boss Jimmy Dack blasted Sutton United's lack of fitness after his first game in charge ended in defeat at the weekend.

Having already been relegated from Blue Square South, United crashed to a 2-0 loss at play-off hopefuls Havant & Waterlooville.

But Dack declared himself happy with the overall performance.

He said: "There was a lot of effort and hard work, and that was very encouraging.

"In fact, if we had put away our chances, the result could have been very different.

"But I thought the fitness of the players was nowhere near good enough.

"I do not want to criticise the previous regime, but the lack of fitness was appalling.

"My teams have always been very fit and that is something I will be working on.

"But, if they are not fit now, there is very little I can do at this stage of the season."

Dack has made it clear that he plans to use the final four games of the season to assess the talent on offer at Gander Green Lane.

And he warned players that nobody's future was assured.

He added: "The players have four games left to prove to me that they belong at this football club.

"Everybody is on trial, including myself. I only want players who really want to play for Sutton United."

Strugglers Welling United visit on Saturday, with Dack looking to end United's dismal run of 11 games without a win.

He added: "It is a winnable game but I look to win every game no matter the opposition.

"All I am asking of the players is that they give me, and the club, their all."

Remaining fixtures: Apr 12 Welling United (h), 19 Bath City (a), 22 Bognor Regis Town (a), 26 Cambridge City (h).