Sutton United new boy Jay Conroy says he is proud to have been part of AFC Wimbledon’s rise, but admits he wishes he was still at Kingsmeadow.

The 25-year-old part-time model won the Blue Square South with the Dons and was part of Terry Brown’s first Blue Square Premier squad.

He is expected to be in the United line-up for Saturday’s friendly at Gander Green Lane as both teams step-up preparations for their forthcoming campaigns.

Conroy left AFC Wimbledon - now in League Two - in 2009 in search of regular first-team football and says he will be happy to be re-united with the Dons faithful for one last time.

“I would have loved to have stayed, but I wasn’t going to stay somewhere I was not wanted. There are no hard feelings, that is just football,” he said.

“They have the best set of fans I’ve played in front of. They make that club and I’m glad they’ve gone up.

“It will be good to catch up with everyone again and I’ll definitely be popping along to watch one or two of their games when I can this season.

“It’ll be interesting to see how they go.”