Paul Doswell is so confident that Sutton United’s planning application for a 3G pitch will be permitted he knows the date the workmen will roll into Gander Green Lane.

The club will submit their plans to Sutton Council today (Friday) and the work is pencilled in to start on May 18.

There is the small matter of a three-week consultation period, before a decision is announced in about eight weeks’ time.

Doswell said: “We’re very confident of a successful application, and I know the pitch will be in place for next season.

“I point to the fact that Carshalton Athletic successfully appealed a decision to deny them permission to build a 3G pitch [in January] as setting a precedent.

“That permission is a lawful document and there is no reason why we would not get the green light.”

Meanwhile, the push to sell season tickets for next season at a reduced price has already raised £5,000.

Doswell said: “We’re really pleased about it, because we’ve not even started the major marketing push yet, and those buying tickets are not our regular season ticket holders.

“People need to recognise that we can only sell 1,000 tickets at the low rates, so they need to make sure they don’t miss out.”