AFC Wimbledon saw transfer deadline day deal for Charlton midfielder fall through

AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson has admitted he would have liked “another couple of bodies” through the door during the summer transfer window, writes Edmund Brack.

The South London Press understands the League Two club were close to signing Charlton Athletic midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey, 28, on deadline day.

The Dons believed that all of the paperwork had been sent over to the Addicks with time to spare, but the deal failed to be completed before the 11pm deadline and Forster-Caskey was denied an opportunity to reunite with his former manager.

Chelsea academy midfielder Xavier Simons was also a player the Dons had considered but he joined Championship side Hull City on a season-long loan.

“We had a number of players that we were chasing on deadline day,” Jackson told the South London Press. “For whatever reason, they didn’t drop.

“We were a little frustrated with that, but my staff, Jamie Johnson [head of recruitment], Mick Buckley [chairman] and myself all worked tirelessly during that window and on the final day to try and get the people in the building that we wanted.”

Wimbledon made four permanent signings during the summer window, bringing in Josh Davison from Charlton Athletic, Harry Pell from Accrington Stanley and signing experienced duo Chris Gunter and Alex Pearce on free transfers.

Nathan Young-Coombes, Paris Maghoma, Kyle Hudlin and Ryley Towler joined on season-long loans.

“I’m delighted with the guys that we have brought into the squad,” said Jackson.

“We lost a couple of players, but we expected when I came to the football club that we would lose the likes of Jack Rudoni and Luke McCormick – we also expected Ben Heneghan and Anthony Hartigan to go.

“We have found a good balance in the squad now between experience and youth. We would have liked one or two more bodies. We were trying to get a couple in on deadline day, but through no fault of our own, we couldn’t get them over the line.”

With Brentford loanee Maghoma suspended for last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat away to Stockport and Jack Currie (shoulder) missing through injury, Jackson was forced to name three defenders and one academy midfielder – Kwaku Frimpong – on the bench for the trip to Edgeley Park.

“In an ideal world, [signing] another couple of bodies would have helped us,” admits Jackson.

“We were light on the bench the other day, and when you do get a couple of injuries such as Alex Woodyard being out or Currie missing and Hudlin also being out, it does leave us short.

“Hopefully, we get those guys back, and we don’t get too many injuries or suspensions in that period. We have to carefully manage our squad now and try to minimise the injuries and suspensions.”