Chris Agutter says securing National League survival was the “first part of the job” as he looks ahead to the final Enterprise National League game of the season away at Boreham Wood (Saturday, 25th April; 3pm KO), and a significant summer rebuild.
Sutton travel to Meadow Park this weekend to bring the 2025/26 campaign to a close, with attention already turning to what comes next.
“I’m pleased we’ve helped the club secure its National League status,” he said. “That was the first part of the job, and we’ve got that done.
“Now it’s about building on the best bits we’ve seen over the last six months and moving the club forward.”
Reflecting on his time since arriving earlier in the season, he highlighted the connection with supporters as a standout.
“The welcome we received was unbelievable,” he said. “There’s a real family feel at the club, and that immediate connection with the fanbase has stayed with me and the staff.”
“You saw that again after the Altrincham game – the support, the warmth, it’s been incredible and it’s something we really value.”
“Games like Scunthorpe away, Truro away, Hartlepool away and Wealdstone at home – there have been some really strong performances and important results.”
“But the overriding feeling is that we feel at home here, we understand what the club stands for, and we’re aligned with that.”
“There’s a lot of work to do. The squad will change – I’d suggest at least 50 per cent of it.”
“We’ll look to reduce the squad size, keep the best of what we’ve got, and then add experienced leaders, more personality and proven quality.
“That will give us a real chance of pushing towards our long-term aim, which is promotion.”
Pre-season will be key in laying the groundwork for that ambition, but first and foremost, despite safety already secured, he expects a strong mentality from his players heading into the final match of the season.
“A strong pre-season is vital,” he said. “Physically, it gives the players a base to handle a long season, but it’s also where you put the technical and tactical foundations in place.
“We’ve already got clear ideas on how we want to play, so that gives us a head start.”
“If you’ve got the right character, motivation isn’t an issue. There has been a slight drop-off since we secured safety, but I don’t think it’s conscious.”
“It’s been a long, demanding season – mentally and physically – but that’s not an excuse.”
“This is where the proper players stand up. We’ll be going into the game with no excuses and expecting the right level of performance.”
The trip to Boreham Wood presents another tough test against one of the league’s form sides, with the Hertfordshire-based side catapulting from the National League South last term to one of the best outfits in the fifth tier. Despite this, rather than adopting a cautious approach, Agutter insists his side will look to take the game on.
“They’ve done an amazing job,” he said. “They’re one of the best footballing teams in the league now and a really good side to watch.”
“It’s another opportunity for us to test ourselves against a team where we want to be.”
“We’ll go there to win. We won’t sit back or play on the back foot.”
“If we want to be a top team, we need that mentality – to be aggressive, on the front foot, and trying to hurt the opposition.”
“There’s respect for them, of course, but no fear. We’ll go toe to toe.”
Finally, he paid tribute to the supporters for their backing throughout the campaign.
“They’ve been absolutely magnificent,” he said. “That connection with the fans is the biggest thing that stands out from my time here so far.”
“We want to win for them, to give them exciting football and something to be proud of.”
“So this weekend is about finishing the season properly and giving them a performance they deserve before what will be a big summer for the club.”
