Assistant boss on pre-season and improving the squad
says that AFC Wimbledon’s summer overhaul is going according to plan and he is confident that the players will be able to implement new ideas during pre-season matches.Neil Cox
at the training ground today and provided team news ahead of Saturday’s match against FC United, along with an update on training and transfer plans.Dons PlayerWimbledon’s assistant manager spoke to
Speaking about Wimbledon’s pre-season so far, Neil Cox said: “The main thing is getting everyone through pre-season fit. When we came to the club in October there were a lot of injuries and plenty of loan players. But now we have been able to work with the players from day one; they have fitness programmes that they have to follow, everything is organised the way we want it and we know what is going on.
“The main aim last season was to stay up, but next season we want to build it up by bringing a new team together and changing the way we play. So far it is going okay and we are practicing really hard on the training pitch. We have brought in eight new faces – hopefully there will be a couple more – and the players are trying to learn a new way of playing. During the past week in training we have been doing passing drills and hopefully the players can take it forward into games. We will be looking for them to step it up with the midfielders stringing more passes together and creating more chances for the forwards.”
Neil Cox added that striker Charlie Sheringham and goalkeeper Ross Worner both have ankle knocks and are unlikely to feature in Saturday’s match against FC United.
Wimbledon head into that match with a team spirit that Neil says will serve the club well during the 2013/14 season.
“The players we have brought in are really good around the place,” Neil added. “We have brought good characters in. There are nine Kent boys who all travel in together and there is a good camaraderie between them. Everyone is getting on really well with the staff working hard together alongside the players. We are a team and that will continue.”
Dons Player subscribers can now watch the full video interview with Neil Cox on our premium site and tomorrow Jack Midson looks ahead to next season almost 12 weeks since his dramatic winner against Fleetwood.