More from the Dons favourite on his return
In his first interview since returning to AFC Wimbledon, Chris Hussey says he is relishing the chance to show the club’s supporters what he can do again.
Having now passed a thorough medical from club physio Mike Rayner during the afternoon, Chris is officially a Wimbledon player again.
A hero of the club’s Conference South title-winning team, the left-back admitted that Simon Bassey (pictured with Chris above) was a major influence in bringing him back as ‘Bass’ was reserve team manager when he joined the club in 2007.
The full interview with Chris Hussey, which appeared on the Dons Player site this afternoon is now published below.
How does it feel to be back at Wimbledon?
It is brilliant to be back. I enjoyed my time when I was first here. It is a great club and some of the staff are still here from my previous time, including Simon Bassey and Mike Rayner. I am looking forward to being involved again, hopefully this Saturday.
I guess it has been a hectic 24 hours for you after being released by Coventry yesterday.
I came down from Coventry last night, I did not get back until late and then I signed this morning. It has been a bit of a rush, but that is life and certainly that’s the way football works.
A lot has changed since you were last at the club as Wimbledon had not long been promoted from Conference South when you left.
A lot has changed. Just coming into the training ground and having breakfast here in the morning is different with the club having turned full-time since I left. It is a big club and I aim to enjoy myself while I am here again by helping the team to where it belongs.
Just to draw a line under your time at Coventry, what wrong for you there?
A different manager has different ideas and though I played a lot last season, it has not worked out. But that’s football and I just have to get on with it now. I am a professional at the end of the day and I need to play games. I was here at the club before and I cannot wait to get involved again.
You had a special affinity with the Wimbledon supporters during your previous time at the club. Is the challenge now to show them what you can do again?
Last season I did show what I could do and I come back here as a better player – that is a big plus for me. I will put the experiences I had at Coventry into practice here. When I was at the club previously we were used to winning games. Wimbledon should be higher, maybe at the top of League 2 or even in League 1 or the Championship. The sky is the limit for this club. It has a big fan base, good people backing the club, and great coaching staff. The lads here have also made me feel very welcome.
How much of an influence did Simon Bassey play in bringing you here?
If it was not for ‘Bass’ I would not be the player that I am today. He put a lot of time into helping me with my game when we were part-time and just training on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He was a big factor in me coming here again. ‘Bass’ was the one who rang me up and asked me to join Wimbledon again and I jumped at the chance. I had also heard good things about the manager and his assistant and I am looking forward to getting the team up the table.
Was the chance to come back home also a key factor?
I am loving being back here already – and I have only been here an hour! Footballers are only human in that we need to be happy off the pitch so that we can give our best on the pitch. I have moved back in with my Mum in Shepherds Bush and I could not wait to come back. I could have gone to a higher level club in League 1, but I wanted to come back to Wimbledon. I want to do my bit to help this club and I am positive that we can do well.
Dons Player subscribers can access the full video interview with Chris Hussey on our premium site.