Loan blow as Dons set to lose defender to Portsmouth

AFC Wimbledon loanee Ryley Towler looks set to join Portsmouth on a permanent deal after his parent club Bristol City accepted a bid from the League One side.

The defender has spent the first half of the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Plough Lane under Johnnie Jackson, featuring 24 times in all competitions after joining from Ashton Gate on deadline day in the summer window.

Towler, 20, scored his first goal for the Dons in the 3-1 defeat at Walsall and played every minute of Wimbledon’s 10-game unbeaten run in League Two.

Another Bristol City player could be heading to the Dons on loan for the second half of the season.

Portsmouth are without a manager after they sacked boss Danny Cowley following the 3-1 defeat to Charlton.

Former Wimbledon coach and caretaker manager Simon Bassey is currently taking temporary charge of the Pompey side.

There was an expectation that Towler would see out the season with Wimbledon, but BristolLive are reporting that Pompey’s low six-figure fee with future incentives has convinced Bristol City to cut Towler’s loan deal with the Dons short and allow him to leave permanently for Fratton Park.

Speaking on to our paper about Towler, Dons boss Jackson said: “Ryley has been brilliant for us – his level of performance has been outstanding. I would agree that his performances have been improving game by game.

“He has been a real reliable signing for us. He’s a great character, too – a great kid to have around the place. He works hard every day and there is no fuss. He has been a pleasure to work with.”

Paris Maghoma was also recalled by Brentford yesterday.

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD