Wally Downes: Dons didn’t have a transfer recruitment policy

Wally Downes has revealed there was no recruitment policy before he took charge at AFC Wimbledon.

The Dons boss is gearing up for his second transfer window. But his hands were slightly tied in his first crack at strengthening the squad with  season-long loan commitments already in place for the likes of Jake Jervis and Tyler Garrett.

Downes had successes in the loan market with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale winning the club’s Player of the Year award. Left-back Steve Seddon also impressed after arriving from Birmingham City.

The Wimbledon manager says more than 1,000 players have already been scouted since he replaced Neal Ardley.

“There are some holes to be plugged,” said Downes. “It’s clear to everybody the positions that are available. If we can get full-time signings in, great, but if we have to bring in loan players then they have to be the right ones. They have to be the right sort of people to buy into what is a unique club.

“There was no recruitment policy when I got here, so the important thing was that we implemented that as fast as we could and more than 1,000 players have been scouted since we came in.

“I’ve put a succession plan to the board about players and targets that we’ve got from that. With the positions we need to strengthen, we’ve got three or four targets in every position.

“There will be players that we want to take, as opposed to agent-led players that are just ones you can have.”

First-team coach Simon Bassey has left Wimbledon by mutual consent – ending a 14-year spell in the role.