Ritchie Is Ready For His Latest National League Assignment

The National League expert has bags of experience - taking Mansfield up in 2013 and doing the same with Tranmere five years later.

He also took Stafford Rangers to National League North play-off success back in 2006 before pulling on his boots for Northwich, Halifax and Barrow in the competition.

Now for 34-year-old Sutton, it is time to help the youngsters - and get some more family time too after signing from Morecambe.

“I know the manager and he has been trying to get me in for a few years, but I wasn’t willing to drop down to part time,” he said.

“But it is right for me now and it is right for him and I think it’s a perfect fit.

“He wants to get that experienced centre half in, who has got promotions in that league and done well. It’s a really good move.”

Sutton has spoken of his experience and what it will bring to the Altrincham squad, after dropping down from full-time football to part-time to join Phil Parkinson, who has had him on his radar for some time.

“It is a different stage of my career, I am looking forward to helping other players with my experiences,” he said.

“I have played under some good managers over the years, and when I played with Steve McNulty at Tranmere, he was at that stage where I am now, I learnt a lot from him.

“He got the best out of other players and he got the best out of me, so hopefully, I can take what I have learnt from managers and players to try and help players get the best out of them for next season.”

The 34-year old signed a two-year deal at Moss Lane last week, after being released by Morecambe, it was the right decision for Sutton who has a young family to look after.

Alty may have lost Elliott Durrell to Wrexham but they have added some real style to the side with Matty Kosylo putting pen to paper.

“I was travelling full-time with Morecambe with a young family so it was a lot to do at times, so to get a club like Altrincham, a good club who have been promoted, and with my location and family commitments, the package was perfect for me,” Sutton said.

“My initial thoughts are that it is a club going in the right direction, it has a nice ground and it has good facilities, so it will be an exciting challenge for me.

“When the gaffer came in, the club were on the back of back to back relegations and now since he has been there they have had two promotions in three years.”