Sutton United have taken steps to bolster their squad ahead of their ongoing relegation fight by securing the signing of free agent Dominc Gape.
The 29-year-old was released by League One side Wycombe Wanderers in the summer, where the midfielder spent seven years of his career. He racked up 204 appearances for the Chairboys, scoring four goals.
His time came to an end at Adams Park, with persistent injuries limiting his playing time, making only 16 appearances in 2022/23, the majority of which came in the early months of the campaign.
Reports this summer found that Gape had linked up with former manager Gareth Ainsworth at Queens Park Rangers, with West London Sport reporting in July that he had arrived in West London on trial.
Similarly, Sam Byrne broke that the midfielder was one of three trialists who had joined the Stockport County overseas camp in Spain over the summer but was not signed by Dave Challinor.
The Burton Bradstock-born midfielder has instead joined the U’s, with the club confirming he will wear the number 26 shirt.
Sutton sit at the foot of the League Two, claiming only seven points from their opening 13 fixtures. Last time out they faced a drubbing away at Doncaster Rovers, with Harry Smith claiming a late consolation in a 4-1 defeat in South Yorkshire.
Injury issues are currently a big issue for the South Londoners, and the Yellows have not been able to name their full allocation of seven substitutes since the end of September.
The fixture list does not get any easier in the short term for the Matt Gray’s side, welcoming unbeaten in five Morecambe to the VBS Community Stadium.
Writer’s View
Dominic Gape will bring an additional level of experience to a team that is struggling at the bottom of League Two. His seven years at Wycombe have seen the midfielder play in the Championship, League One and the fourth division and will offer a needed boost to Matt Gray. Whilst his injury issues could come back to bite Sutton, Gape should be able to offer a new dimension to Sutton’s midfield.
Should they come out of the next short run of fixtures unscathed, having the passing ability and leadership of Gape at their disposal should help them claim more points in a gentler fixture list. A player who, on his day, is good enough to be in League One could be the wildcard the U’s need to build a solid foundation and rise the table.
