SUTTON SWOOP
Manager Paul Doswell is delighted to snap up Chris Dickson for the U’s
CHRIS DICKSON is taking a 75 per cent pay cut to join Sutton United – and because of that his new manager says he won’t stand in the way should the Football League come calling again.
Dickson is back in the UK after ending his lucrative four-year stint in Cyprus, returning home to be with his family.
He played for five clubs in the Cypriot First Division, which included Champions League football with AEL Limassol.
He was confirmed as the National League newcomers’ latest addition an hour before the Us played Ebbsfleet United yesterday and manager Paul Doswell feels he has got himself a bargain.
Dickson rose to prominence at Dulwich Hamlet, which convinced Charlton to spend £50,000 to lure him to the Valley. Various loan spells in the League two years later couldn’t attract a deal and he left for Cyprus – via a short stint in China – back in 2012.
Doswell said: “When he came back here I think he was expecting a chance in League One or League Two, but for whatever reason it didn’t materialise.
Success
“I got a phone call alerting me to the fact he was back in the country and I invited him to training. He looked really sharp, so we offered him a deal and it was concluded quickly. “He’s on a quarter of the money he was, but he’s made the decision to come home and be with his family. He is 31 now and probably still wants to play as high as he can. If he does well, League clubs will look at him. Should they want to speak to him, we won’t put up any barriers.
“He’s a good player and this is our biggest summer signing. I’m surprised we got Chris, but we’re thrilled he’s here.
“He played with (Sutton midfielder) Nicky Bailey at Charlton before he went abroad and they were close. Nicky will help him settle in – it’s always good when you arrive at a new club and there’s at least one familiar face.”
Doswell wasn’t overly concerned by Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at Ryman Premier champions Hampton & Richmond Borough.
“It was a smashing game,” he said. “We’ve done quite well pre-season. We’re better on the Saturdays; we’ve beaten a good Crystal Palace side and Portsmouth too. But midweeks we’ve suffered a little. I’m not worried.
“We’re happy with where we’re at. It’s pretty much the same group as last season. We’ve tweaked a few things, but they’re a confident bunch.
“We don’t want to go back down again so we’ll be fully focused on getting it right against some big old clubs.”