Sutton United boss Paul Doswell has admitted that Saturday’s FA Cup exit marked a new low in his tenure as manager.

However, after a weekend of soul-searching, the Gander Green Lane boss has decided not to throw in the towel.

United were poor in the 3-1 Cup defeat to Burgess Hill Town, a side two divisions below them, as they were in the 3-1 Conference South defeat to Bath City the previous weekend and the narrow 3-2 Cup win at Essex Senior League side FC Romania the weekend before that.

Doswell is promising wholesale changes, but he also points to circumstances beyond his control that have dealt repeated blows to United.

He said: “I had a lot of thoughts going through my head while driving home on Saturday. There is no doubt that this has been a difficult season so far, and I am hurting as much as anyone else.

“But you have to use the word perspective. We’ve lost three players to retirement through injury [Will Spetch, Marvin Williams and Luke Ruddick] and a number of players have been dealing with personal tragedies and problems off the field.

“The fans do not see the side that I see, and sometimes you have to remember that the players are human beings.”

He added: “But there are also three or four who are off form, and I know I cannot let this slide.

“I take full responsibility for going out of the cup at this stage. We’re never going to win the FA Cup, but we did not get our cup final this season, and that really hurts.

“Against Burgess Hill we look disorganised, and Paul Doswell sides are always organised, so I am going to have a busy week reviewing many different things.”

Doswell has already moved to reshuffle his pack, saying he is close to signing former Bournemouth defender Shaun Cooper.

Lowlights: Sutton United 1 v 3 Burgess Hill Town                 SUFCTV

Cooper, a free agent after cancelling his contract at Torquay United, has more than 250 first team appearances to his name, including 194 at the Cherries.

Doswell has also hinted that sweeping changes will not only affect personnel on the pitch.

He said: “There is plenty to look at, including who wears the armband and how badly we’re defending.

“I have asked the video guys to make me a horror compilation of goals we have conceded and I’d guess 90 per cent have come from our mistakes.

“I also need to look at the staffing and training side of things, we have three or four at the moment and that may have to come down to one or two.”

He added: “These are dark times, and I feel that, and sometimes you have to dust yourself off and start again.

“I did it over Christmas and we finished second. I have had sides second from bottom and finished in the play-offs.

“There will be changes, but I am not one of them.”