AFC Wimbledon boss isn’t planning “massive disruption” to his squad in summer transfer window

BY DANIEL MARSH

AFC Wimbledon boss Mark Robinson has given an insight into his summer plans – revealing he doesn’t want “massive disruption” in terms of tweaking his squad.

Results elsewhere meant the Dons’ League One safety was assured for another year, despite their 3-1 loss to Portsmouth.

Planning is already underway for next term, but Robinson doesn’t want to see a massive overhaul of the current playing squad.

“I like to build and create things, so I don’t want massive disruption,” said the Dons boss.

“I don’t want eight players in and eight players out that we’ve sort of had for the last nine years because you’re never going to build anything.

“That’s why I was disappointed [with the Portsmouth performance] because I looked at them and thought, that’s the last thing I want to do really. But if we put in performances like that, we’re going to end up in the same scenario [fighting relegation] and I don’t want that.

“In terms of the learning environment and the culture I want to build, it started from day one, even before I had the job permanently, because that’s the way I work. In terms of players, not so much. I love to improve players, that’s what I love to do.

“I find it bizarre when people talk tactically all the time – if you want players to perform tactically then you need to improve them, they need to have the tools to do what you want. So I want to see how much we can improve these players before we talk about changes, because I believe there’s an awful lot more in them, and up until [the Portsmouth game] they’d shown that.”

When it comes to targets for next season however, Robinson wouldn’t be drawn on setting an exact figure.

“I’m not a big believer in setting those sorts of targets,” he explained.

“I think the most important target is coming in every day and trying to be the best that we can be, and know that if we do that then we can massively overachieve. I think if you set targets it can be a dangerous thing.

“Since we came together, our target wasn’t to survive, it was to improve and become better, to build a culture and a proper learning environment and we knew if we did that then we’d stay up, which we’ve done.  That’ll be the same next year. I know if I can get that embedded, then I don’t want to put limits on what we can achieve, because you can achieve anything if you’ve got like-minded people in the building.”

PHOTOS: KEITH GILLARD