Sutton United manager John Rains will need to make major changes to his side if they are to push for honours in the future.

That is the belief of United's defender Gwynne Berry a member of the club's 1998-99 Ryman League Premiership winning side who thinks the club can return to its former glory, but not with the current team.

"The side needs to change. I don't think there are players who are good enough," said veteran Berry.

"It's not just technical ability, but desire. We need to be in games to win them and that is the difference between the side that won the league and the one now.

"The championship squad was very motivated and driven to win games, but some of our play this season has lacked determination."

Berry, 38, postponed his plans to retire from the game to help out the United manager and his long-term friend Rains.

The pressure of balancing his football career with family life and running his own coaching business made Berry consider hanging up his boots.

But after a brief spell as man-ager of Ryman League Divi-sion One side Dulwich Hamlet, he rejoined Sutton.

"I want to help the club out," said Berry. "John was good enough to ask if I wanted to come back and if it was not for him I would probably have retired from the game.

"I'm happy with how things are going. I won't be here long-term, but the current arrangement suits me and John.

"I came as a replacement for Danny Brooker, but now he is back from injury I have found myself on the subs bench a lot more."

Berry believes that, after a run of mixed results, Rains is about to make necessary major changes to his squad.

Sutton have lost three league and cup games in November and on Tuesday night suffered a 4-1 home defeat by Ryman League Premier Division pace-setters Canvey Island.

After taking the lead with an own goal, Canvey ran riot in the latter stages of the contest, scoring four goals in the last 15 minutes.

Sutton were not helped by David Timothy's sending off for two bookable offences in the second-half.

"John was not happy," said Berry. "I thought we played some good football in the first half, but when they scored I could only see one winner.

"We lacked a cutting edge up front."

Sutton's next game is away to Maidenhead on November 24.

November 16, 2001 10:31