Wimbledon get go-ahead for move back home

AFC Wimbledon have been given the green light to build a new stadium in their home London borough.

Representatives from the League One club, Merton Council and developer GRA Acquisitions signed paperwork yesterday which means work can start at the site of the old Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium on Plough Lane.

Development of the £25million stadium is due to start next summer and the club hope to move into the 11,000-seat ground for the start of the 2019/20 season.

The old Wimbledon club, who moved to Milton Keynes in 2003 and became MK Dons, played close to the site of the planned new Plough Lane stadium from 1912 to 1991. AFC Wimbledon formed as a result of the controversial move and currently play their home matches at Kingsmeadow, which was previously home to Kingstonian.

AFC Wimbledon chief executiveErikSamuelsonhailed a “momentous day” after the permission was granted.

“Everyone in football knows the story of how AFC Wimbledon came into being. A group of fans started with nothing; no ground, no team, no manager, no players and no kit,” Samuelson told the club’s official website.

“Now, 15 years later, we’ve taken a giant step towards going home to Merton, in a new stadium and as a Football League club.

“This is a momentous day for us.”

Football Association of Wales chief executive Jonathan Ford is to face a disciplinary commission over his comment that the next Wales manager will “definitely” not be English.

The FAW’s investigation could delay the appointment of the next Wales manager as Ford is due to head up the process of finding Chris Coleman’s successor.

Ford said last week that the FAW preferred the next Wales manager to be Welsh and “definitely not English”.

“We have always favoured Welsh people because arguably the passion is there,” Ford told BBC Wales.

“Somebody said this earlier, Welsh most definitely, foreign possibly, but definitely not English.”

But the ruling FAW council met in Cardiff on Tuesday and voted for Ford’s comment to be explored further, with a three-man disciplinary commission set up.