Wimbledon manager determined to make progress
Neal Ardley says that he is working “incredibly hard” to recruit the right players that will transform AFC Wimbledon’s fortunes next season.
With the club having released players earlier this week, Wimbledon’s first-team management are putting in plenty of hours trying to bring in new additions to boost their squad.
“What is really important from my point of view is that I know the summer will shape next season – it always does,” said the Wimbledon manager. “If you get the summer right, then it gives you a great chance. I do not want to rest on my laurels now even though the season has finished. We have done a lot of groundwork behind the scenes and have made a lot of phone calls. If we can add one or two over the course of the next two or three weeks then that will be a good start and we will progress it as the summer goes on.”
“I want to work incredibly hard alongside the staff to get it right. We will need to have a little bit of patience along the way. But if we can get our recruitment, coaching and style right then I would much rather have a season that everyone is celebrating for different reasons.”
Neal Ardley added that he does have other options to pursue after goalkeeper John Sullivan today decided to join Portsmouth rather than sign for Wimbledon on a permanent basis after his successful loan spell.
“We gave John Sullivan the very best offer that we could,” said Neal. “It was a good offer, but unfortunately John has decided to join Portsmouth and he has been sold by the size of the club. He loved being at Wimbledon, but he has decided to go in a different direction. I am totally comfortable that we did everything possible to sign John Sullivan.
“There is no need to panic and we have a couple of aces up our sleeve. We had face-to-face meetings with two players this week and will meet with two more next week. We do not have unlimited funds at Wimbledon and we have to work hard to sell the club – sometimes that can take a little longer.”