Sutton United boss Paul Doswell says releasing Dale Binns was one of his most difficult decisions in his managerial career.

Binns signed in the summer of 2013 from Woking and was instrumental in guiding United to the Conference South play-off semi-finals in 2014.

However, last season was riddled with injuries and the 33-year-old Binns struggled to recapture the form of the previous season.

And, having suffered the consequences of standing by another injury-ravaged player last summer, Doswell made his call.

“Dale is a great lad, he’s a good footballer and he has a great character – his leaving is nothing to do with that,” he said.

“He had a great first season with us, but he had a bad season with injury last time out.

“I had stuck by Marvin [Williams] this time last year, and he was injured and pretty much out of the game by August.

“My concern with Dale, given his age, was that the same thing would happen to him.”

He added: “He has great experience but then we have that in Glen Southam and Jamie Collins.

“Dale can still do a job for a club, and if he goes somewhere and plays 42 games this season, then no one will be happier for him than me.

“It was such a difficult decision to make.”

Binns said: “I love the club and the fans and I would have loved to stay, I wish them well.”

Also leaving the Lane are loanees Kieron Forbes and Louie Theophanous, as well as Jamie White.

Doswell said: “Jamie and I has a sit down a few weeks ago and it was clear that he was not in the form he had been with Salisbury.

“It’s a shame because he was a good player, but it just did not work out.”

Coming into the Lane are wingers Ross Stearn from Bath City and Tom Bolarinwa from Cray Wanderers.