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Sutton boss satisfied with state of squad rebuild

Writer's picture: By Dan EvansBy Dan Evans


Sutton United boss Matt Gray says he is pleased with the current state of his squad rebuild amid a busy summer at the VBS Community Stadium.


The 41-year-old has seen 12 players depart and seven come in since the end of the 2022/23 season, and he insists it is a state of affairs he is comfortable with.


Six of his new arrivals featured in Saturday’s 2-0 pre-season win against Reading, and Gray outlined he was the driving force behind the off-season rebuild post-match.


“I felt after four years of being the manager here I needed to freshen things up,” he said. “I wanted a fifty percent turnaround in the squad and that’s what I’ve done.


“It’s resulted in me having a busy summer but that’s what I wanted.”


Gray confirmed that of those who departed, midfielder Alistair Smith was the only one he was hoping to keep, only for the 24-year-old to join League One Lincoln City in June.


The likes of Coby Rowe, Will Randall and Omar Bugiel were all let go in the summer having been part of the Sutton side that earned a first-ever promotion to the Football League and then went on to reach the EFL Trophy final in 2022.


He pointed to the success that Manchester United had in constantly rebuilding under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson as a factor in his thinking.


“They’ve [departing players] been on a journey with me, but you look at Man United and Ferguson winning all of those league titles. Some [players] stuck with him through the different squads and rebuilds – the Nevilles’, the Giggs’, Scholes etcetera – but some fell by the wayside.


“That’s where I was at in the Summer, I was looking for that change and that freshness.”


It was two goals from trialists that earned Sutton the win against Reading, and Gray confirmed that adding to his squad is a pririority in what remains of the transfer window.


“I’m still looking to bring a few more in. Four, maybe five,” he said. “There will be some bodies coming in, some new faces for sure.


“I’m looking for wide players and strikers. I’m happy with the options in central midfield. I’m happy with the backline and the competition I’ve got there, and in goal as well. I just want that bit of quality and strength in depth in the wide areas and upfront.


“You look at the seven who have come in, and what a good seven they are in terms of the competition we’ve now got.”


Even though off-field matters have understandably dominated his thinking throughout the summer so far, Gray was still pleased that his side followed up an opening pre-season win against Havant and Waterlooville with victory against Reading.


“There are things that you’re looking for that you’ve implemented in training to bring to the pitch in pre-season games,” he explained.


“You want to win everything and instil a winning mentality. Whether we are playing five-a-sides in training or whatever, you want to win.


“It’s not the be all and end all, you’re not getting judged for it, but it’s a game of football and we’ve gone and won it just as we did on Tuesday night, so I’m really pleased.


“A clean sheet, a couple of good goals and more minutes into the players [against Reading]. Overall, we are two games in and I’m pleased with where we are at.”


Gray confirmed that new signing Omar Showunmi came off in the first half against Reading as a precaution, and although he is likely to miss Tuesday’s pre-season fixture against Millwall he should be back sooner rather than later.



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