AFC Wimbledon opt to keep versatile performer as contract option exercised
Shane McLoughlin will be an AFC Wimbledon player again next season – with manager Glyn Hodges admitting his versatility was key in landing a new deal.
The Dons exercised a trigger clause in the Irishman’s contract – extending his stay at the League One club for a further 12 months.
Hodges said: “Shane can play in midfield, but also at wing back. He was terrific when he played there last season. He really grew into the role.
“We are not going to have as big a squad for next season, so it’s important that we have players that can play in different positions. Shane can play in a number of positions, and he’s getting better and better.
“He’s had a good upbringing as a footballer, so he knows how to play, and he has a good football brain. It’s therefore easy for him to adapt to playing in different positions.
“When we switched him to wing-back we knew that he was athletic and would do a good job there. We wanted to get him in the team, but we had a strong midfield at the time, so when the opportunity arose we thought he adapted to the role well.”
The Dons released Rod McDonald, Anthony Wordsworth, Mitch Pinnock, Scott Wagstaff, Kwesi Appiah and Dylan Connolly last month.
AFC Wimbledon chief executive Joe Palmer said at the time: “We would have liked to have kept some of these players, but with the Covid-19 crisis and without further certainty of revenue coming into the club, we are having to look at restructuring our approach to our playing squad for next season – to be able to put a squad together that will fall in line with the finances available.”
PICTURE BY PAUL EDWARDS
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