Sutton United’s favourites tag is down to manager Paul Doswell and not the money, according to player-coach Steve McKimm.

The Gander Green Lane club must pay compensation for new signings Fola Orilonishe and Sam Page, while Richard Jolly, Craig Dundas and Tom Davis have also come in to swell the ranks.

Their signatures have seen Doswell ship out some of last season’s stars to balance the books, but nonetheless the United squad is looking one of the strongest in the Ryman League Premier Division.

Rival Kingstonian boss Alan Dowson, who also targeted Page’s signature, cannot see past Sutton as favourites to lift the title, but McKimm reckons that is nothing new given the calibre of the man in charge at United.

“We had it last year and the year before that and that is all down to the manager,” he said.

“It is not about money or how much we’re spending because the budget hasn’t changed. It has remained the same and it is something he works within.

“He is very shrewd and has a lot of contacts in the game, but players coming here is nothing to do with finances. Players want to play got Paul.

“People know he puts together good teams and they want to be a part of that.”

Doswell starts his third season at Sutton looking to go one step further than two successive campaigns that have featured runs to the FA Cup first round proper, but nonetheless have ended in play-off heartache.

And McKimm believes this is the year the players have to make actions speak louder than words.

“We got no given right to be in any league but we feel we could compete in the Blue Square South if we got there,” he added.

“But we can’t keep saying it, we have got to go out and do it.

“We weren’t that far away from getting there last year - just one bad 45 minutes in the play-offs and we need to go that step further.”

Sutton return to pre-season training next week and McKimm is expecting his men to hit the ground running.

“Everyone was briefed on what they needed to do over the summer to stay in shape and hopefully everyone will come back at the same level of fitness,” he said.

“No-one is going to be away on holiday during pre-season so it means we are not chopping and changing things to get other people up to speed.

“That is the other good thing about having all the players signed up and ready to go straight away.”