Gray still looking for further signings despite Sutton's promising start to the season
Sutton United manager Matt Gray has confirmed that he is still hoping to add further players to his squad before the end of the summer transfer window.
Speaking after Sutton’s narrow 1-0 defeat to League Two leaders Gillingham, Gray made it clear that he would like to have further attacking options to call upon.
A summer overhaul has seen the U’s sign 11 new players whilst allowing 12 to depart, and even though new forward options Omari Patrick, Josh Coley and Scott Kashket have made a bright start to life at Gander Green Lane, Gray is still hoping for more.
Gray previously told Capital Football before the signings of Patrick and Kashket that he would like to bring in forwards and wide players, but it appears he feels even greater depth is required.
He said: “It’s a new group so I’ve learnt where I maybe need to add to the squad before the window shuts.
“We’re looking for players in attacking areas. Other than that I am pretty pleased with where we are at.
He added: “Nothing is close at this second. There’s obviously two weeks before the window shuts, hopefully we can do it before then.”
The Gillingham loss was Sutton’s fourth game in the first ten days of the season, and arrived on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Barrow on Saturday that saw the U’s lead 1-0 with ten men for almost an hour.
A penalty shootout win against League One Cambridge United has secured a first-ever appearance in the second round of the Carabao Cup though, and the opening day 5-1 win against Notts County saw Gray’s side blow away one of the favourites for promotion from the fourth tier.
Given so much has happened already at the start of this season, Gray felt that he has found out a lot about the group of players at his disposal.
He said: “I’ve learnt a lot of positives and good things but I’ve also learnt some things that I need to improve.
“It’s certainly been thick and fast but it’s the same for everyone. We’ve got five games in a 14-day period.
“I’m really pleased with a lot of things. I’m pleased with the opening day; I’m pleased with progressing in the League Cup. [It was] Disappointing on Saturday that we didn’t get something out of the game that we deserved, and tonight was a very tight game that could have gone either way.
“That’s football and we’ll move on to the next game.”
Gray’s attention will now turn to Saturday’s fixture against local rivals AFC Wimbledon at Gander Green Lane.
The Dons are unbeaten so far this season and currently in the League Two play-off places following a 2-0 win at Colchester United on Tuesday night.
Sutton did the league double over them last term, and Gray is more than familiar with Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson given the pair played together in the Tottenham youth team.
“I’ve known Jacko since I was a kid at Spurs and we had some great games against him last season,” he said.
“I’m sure we’ll have a packed house and a great atmosphere [on Saturday].”
