Sutton United boss Paul Doswell says he is tired of derby rivals Carshalton Athletic pleading poverty and reckons cash splashing chairman Paul Dipre has added a different kind of pressure to Robins’ Ryman League Premier Division hopes.

Dipre this week claimed boss Hayden Bird’s playing budget for the coming campaign was 20 per cent less than the money that took Athletic to the play-off final last time out and will be no more than the amount that saw them flirt with relegation in 2008.

Bird confirmed the capture of Matt Gray this week and is looking at adding Craig Dundas to his list of former United stars - including Charlie Ide - now plying their trades at Colston Avenue.

Doswell had tried to tempt Robins striker Richard Jolly to Gander Green Lane earlier this summer, but was unable to match the cash offer he received to stay with Carshalton for another term.

And the United chief reckons it will be a spicy affair when the two teams clash next season.

“Carshalton are going to be there or thereabouts. With the money they are putting into it they should be,” he said.

“It adds a different kind of pressure. They are expected to do well and that affects players. I know it does because I experienced something similar at Eastleigh.

“They keep saying this and that about a lack of money, but everyone in non-League knows they have a very, very good budget. You don’t get the sort of players they have without a decent budget.

“I don’t know how many ex-Sutton players they now have, but when everything adds up it is going to make for a very interesting derby match.”

Sutton returned to pre-season training this week with Doswell on the tail of a 22-year-old midfielder having failed to secure the services of Charlie Hearn and Hasim Deen in recent weeks.

Croydon FC youngster Stefan Payne is reported to be joining reserve team boss Steve Griffin’s regime this summer, but apart from those two the Gander Green Lane chief is happy with his lot.

“A good 18 of the players we will have with us next season came back and are already looking sharp and hungry - despite the ridiculous heat,” he added.

“We are taking a new approach this year. I’m happy with that and really looking forward to the pre-season campaign starting to get a proper look at players.”