Wimbledon chief executive: We won’t be scrapping our long-term strategy despite really difficult results

Wimbledon chief executive Joe Palmer has described the club’s recent run as “really difficult” – but vowed they will not change their long-term strategy.

The Dons have conceded 23 goals in their last eight matches and lost 4-0 at Portsmouth on Tuesday night.

The South Londoners are in the League One relegation zone and have dropped 21 points from winning positions – the most in England’s top-four divisions.

Palmer told the club’s YouTube channel: “It’s been a very tough season, one of the hardest in football for all football clubs.

“Likewise our results have been really difficult. Football is a results-based business and everyone at the club is feeling the same way as the fans are at the moment. We’re doing everything we can to turn it around.

“Just to put it in some context, we aren’t a rich club. We live within our means. This means we start the season with what some might say is a relegation budget. But the fact we were able to sign League One standard players is all testament to the fans.

“The people who bought the non-refundable season tickets and debentures – at a time when we were looking at a season with no ticket revenue – without doing that there is no doubt we wouldn’t have got close to assembling the squad we have and was performing very well at the start of the season.

“Glyn and the team never complained once. We all saw it for what it was – a challenge. But one we want to face head-on, such is the Wimbledon way. That’s about punching above our weight and overcoming the odds.

“We have a long-term strategy that we’re not just going to rip up off the back of some bad results. We believe in what we’re trying to do here with a young team, the youngest in the league, who have the potential to be coached to fulfil that potential.

“Injuries have been problematic and we’re working hard to find way to cover for that – quality cover.

“I’m delighted the board gave us their full support last night for that search. We’re not just going to sign anyone to fill a space in the squad.

“Glyn [Hodges, manager] and I are both in agreement that we only want to bring in quality players for those key positions. We aren’t going to endanger the club’s future by overstretching ourselves.

“I hope everyone can see what we’re doing and that we’re not just sitting on our hands.”