Manager Paul Doswell is delighted to have secured the services of leading scorer Tommy Wright after the striker signed a contract extension to keep him at Sutton until May 2020. ”It’s a great deal for both parties”, said Paul. ”There’s been an incredible improvement in Tommy’s play this season, he’s already scored 15 goals and we think he can get to 25 by the end of the season. There’s been real interest in him from the Football League, but he’s signed the extension because he wants to be here. I think he needs longer with us before he moves to a higher level, and I’m really pleased that he has chosen to continue his improvement with us.”

Also signing an extension, again through to 2020, is captain Jamie Collins. ”We’re training on Mondays now as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays, and it was important to have the skipper involved in that. It’s a reward for his fantastic service as captain and the way he’s led the club on the pitch.”

Moving out, temporarily, are defender Dean Beckwith and striker Ross Lafayette, who have joined Maidstone on loan until March 10th.  Paul explained the moves. ”Dean’s been out injured for a while and now he’s fit it’s important for him to get some games in, and we hope he’ll get a month’s worth of games at Maidstone and come back to us fully match-fit and raring to go for the last two months of the season. We hope the same will happen with Ross – we’re mindful that we’ve got to keep the budget balanced so it’s a chance for him to have a month playing regularly and again we hope he’ll come back to help us in the run-in. We’ve also had an offer accepted for another striker, so we should be well served in that department for the last part of the season.”

An additional outward loan is defender Dan Spence, who has joined Vanarama National League South promotion contenders Hemel Hempstead Town, again for a month. Paul said ”It fits in with Dan’s work as a teacher, and gets him some football which he’s been struggling to get with us, with Louis John’s form and Nicky Bailey being fit again. As well as Nicky, Aswad Thomas and Jamie Butler are also fit and we’re hopeful that they will all be in the squad at Dover on Saturday.”