ANDREW YOUNGMAN

@ andrew_ youngers

Last season was a phenomenal first ever campaign in the Football League: a trip to Wembley in the Pizza Trophy – where agonisingly we lost in extra time to Rotherham – and in with a shout of reaching the play- offs on the final day.

The big talking point is whether we can hang onto our biggest assets, including manager Matt Gray [ above]. This season will be different because we won’t be so much of an unknown, and some teams may suss us out. I won’t be happy unless we end up safe. It’s taken a lot of hard work and financial expense to get where we are. Our most underrated player is either

Jon Barden or Rob Milsom.

Look out for Kylian Kouassi, a young but well- built striker.

Our key player will be Ben Goodliffe [ below], if he stays. He was outstanding in defence and scooped most of the end- of- season awards. The thing my club really gets right is the pricing of affordable season tickets. The active player I’d love to have

back is Maxime Biamou. He left his mark featuring prominently through that famous FA Cup run in 2016- 17, and scored all types of goals.

Fans think our ground is small but much- loved. Gander Green Lane has new features but has kept its character.

The opposition player who grinds my gears is Walsall’s Conor Wilkinson. He scored a penalty and then incited our travelling fans with his unnecessary celebration, just as he did a few years back for Dagenham & Redbridge. The opposition player I’d love here is

Harry Mckirdy, who bagged plenty of goals for Swindon last season. The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that he’s God- like. Gray is adored among Sutton fans after what he’s done in his relatively short tenure. He recruits well and gets the best out of his squad. If he left, he should be replaced by assistant manager Jason Goodliffe.

Fans think our owner is prudent and cautious. Bruce Elliott, an accountant who has been at the helm since the mid- 90s, runs the club extremely well and we can’t ask for more than that.

We’ll finish in mid- table. I'd love to say the play- offs, but consolidating in this league is the priority.

FFT VERDICT

15TH

David Ajiboye is a major loss for Sutton, who relied on his energetic unpredictability – Gray’s 4- 4- 2 asks a lot of his wingers. The south Londoners have a top- notch spirit, however, and mid- table would represent an excellent second- ever campaign in the Football League.