Chairman Bruce Elliott hopes to complete a deal to make Jimmy Dack permanent Sutton United manager by the end of the week.

Dack took on a caretaker role at Gander Green Lane following the dismissal of Ernie Howe five games from the end of Sutton's disastrous Blue Square South campaign.

United were already down when Dack took charge and, although he oversaw a win and a draw, they were relegated with the lowest points total in the division's brief history.

Elliott admitted Dack's enthusiasm and commitment to the cause since he took the post had convinced him he was the right man for the job.

"Jimmy has done tremendously well since he arrived here," said Elliott.

"He seems to be very popular with both the players and the fans.

"His attention to detail is exceptional and he is very professional.

"We had a meeting with him late last week and, although there are a few details still to be sorted, I expect it will all be resolved by the end of this week."

As the manager admitted last week, the one potential stumbling block is finance.

Dack, a midfielder when Sutton won the Ryman Premier League in 1999, said investment was necessary for the club to be competitive.

But Elliott insists there will be money to spend.

"There is certainly not going to be any less money to spend than last season," he added "In fact, we are looking at ways of increasing the budget. Everything is in place commercially and we have a very solid base to build from."

The chairman admitted United would not necessarily find life easier in the lower division and that improvements would be necessary for United to mount a promotion push next season.

"I think there will be very little difference between the bottom of the Conference South and the top of the Ryman Premier," he said.

"I think it will be a very similar level of football and we just have to raise our own standards."