As revealed by Matt Gray yesterday in his first interview as Sutton United manager, he has decided against offering new contracts to Nicky Bailey, Dean Beckwith, Aswad Thomas and Brett Williams and we should place on record the club's appreciation of their contribution during their time with us. Nicky and Dean were both important members of the 2016 National League South championship squad, Nicky joining midway through that season, and of course he was earlier a part of the exciting young John Rains side that finished Isthmian League runners-up in 2004 before he went on to enjoy a successful Football League career. They continued to be key players in our National League success and, of course, the FA Cup run two seasons ago, Nicky often filling in at full back rather than his more established midfield position. Nicky's Sutton career saw 271 games and 48 goals, while Dean made 147 appearances and scored eight goals, three of which came in the space of a fortnight in March.
Aswad joined us from Dover for the start of the 2017-18 season and made 85 appearances, scoring three goals, two against Barrow and one against Hartlepool, and proving a popular and consistent left back, while Brett was signed from Torquay just before Christmas, initially on loan before signing a contract in January, and scored three goals in 22 games, the last a fine finish in the final home game of the season against Maidstone.
We wish all four players every success in the future.