New signing Matt Gray insists he did not have to think twice about joining Carshalton Athletic, despite his close ties to fierce rivals Sutton United.

Gray was unveiled as one of the Robins’ six summer recruits at a club launch night on Tuesday evening at Colston Avenue, as preparations get underway for another assault on the Ryman Premier.

And the combative midfielder, who spent a lengthy spell at Gander Green Lane before departing in May 2007, is relishing the challenge.

Gray said: “It was a very easy decision for me to make to be honest.

“I have been speaking to Hayden about coming here for quite some time and I am really looking forward to it.

“I have a lot of friends that play here and I noticed how well they did last year.

“I had offers from clubs at Conference level, but I did not think I would benefit from a move like that.

“It will be strange when we go to play at Sutton - well, strange to sit in the away dressing room anyway.

“I would like to think that I would get a good reception there as I have never bad-mouthed the club or the fans, but it is not as though I have joined any old team so I’m not sure I will.”

After departing Sutton Gray appeared for both Woking and Havant & Waterlooville in the Conference, which included lining up against Brentford in last season’s FA Cup.

And the 25-year-old admits he will be looking to pass that know-how on to his new team-mates.

He added: “I had five or six meetings with Hayden and that came up each time.

“He wants me to be the spirit of the team.

“I need to lead by example and get as much of that experience across to the other players and I am more than happy to do that.”