An update on summer plans from the manager
Neal Ardley has assured Dons fans that he’s working hard to capture summer targets on his extensive list and is confident of assembling a competitive squad.
Speaking to Dons Player after making Sean Rigg his first summer signing, Neal said “Very rarely will things get done within a week of the season finishing. We have met with several players and are constantly pestering agents to see where things are. Sometimes you have to keep your powder dry and be patient with it. There are some players that don’t need to rush into making decisions. We’re aiming high with some and ultimately that brings its own problems and we will miss out on a few. We are confident that come July we will be starting to assemble a good squad.”
Neal, who was busy at a UEFA Pro Licence revalidation course over the weekend, summed up what this time of year is like for a League 2 manager aiming to reshape his squad.
The Wimbledon manager added: “The battery on my phone has probably run out by 2.00 pm every day! I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to Erik so much! It’s one of those times when you are in constant contact with agents to find out information and going through your lists. There are situations when you think you’ve got a chance of getting a player and then he’s gone somewhere else, but there are other times when a door opens and it’s an interesting one.
“That’s why we need to have an extensive list of players and need to be prepared. We know what we want, but the next part is the hard part.”
Dons Player subscribers can watch the full video interview with Neal Ardley on our premium channel.