AFC Wimbledon not looking to make managerial change – and Neal Ardley set to have January funds to play with
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
AFC Wimbledon chief executive Erik Samuelson has issued a statement backing manager Neal Ardley – and revealing more funds will be available in January to try and revitalise the League One strugglers.
The Dons are deep in relegation danger and face a crunch home game against Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.
But Samuelson has spelled out it is no time for managerial change. Ardley has been at the Dons helm for over six years.
A Wimbledon statement said: “We’re very confident Neal continues to carry the dressing room with him.
“The track record of clubs appointing a new manager mid-season is at best mixed and as often as not makes no discernible improvement in performance – all of last season’s relegated clubs changed manager at least once during the season
“We can’t add to the squad until January and Neal is best placed to bring out the best from the current squad.
“Football is a matter of fine margins and in many games this season our overall performance has been good and the result could easily have been different. We think these will even out over the season.
Samuelson said: “Meanwhile, Neal and his management team are working very hard and exploring all options including, for example, asking Steven Sylvester, our sports psychologist, to spend a substantial amount of time this week, getting the players to challenge one another to bring out the best in their performances.
“We are also aware of the financial implications of any decisions. Obviously, if we make a change to the management team there will be a cost to bear, but it’s always been the case that if we need to make a change, we will. Also, as we have always done in the past, we have plans in place to provide the manager with funds to use in the January transfer window.”
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