‘I promised the lad’ – Dons boss explains defender’s National League South loan switch

AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson has explained why Isaac Ogundere was allowed to head off to National League South side Dartford on an initial month loan despite Huseyin Biler being sidelined through injury.

The 20-year-old defender made his first start for the Darts in their 1-0 win against Slough Town on Tuesday night.

Ogundere had made 15 appearances in all competitions this season under Jackson, featuring at centre-back and right-back under the former Charlton boss.

Chris Gunter is currently Wimbledon’s only fit, recognised first-team right-back, with Huseyin Biler picking up a hamstring injury in the 1-0 defeat at Leyton Orient.

Biler is expected to be out for up to a month.

Dartford are 2nd in the National League South – 11 points behind top-of-the-table Ebbsfleet United.

“I had been having a lot of discussions with the lad,” Jackson told the South London Press of the decision to allow Ogundere to leave Plough Lane.

“He’s at a stage where he needs to play regular football for his development.

“He found himself down the pecking order with Hus and Gunter playing in his position.

“He was great when he was first thrown into the team, but he’s such a young lad that he needs to go out and play regular senior football.

“He needs that exposure to playing nearly every Saturday and Tuesday, which those leagues provide. He wasn’t perhaps going to get those opportunities right now with us. 

“He was really keen to go and play men’s football after having a taste for it.

“I promised the lad that once we were in a position where we had legitimate cover, we would let him go out on loan so we didn’t stunt his development.

“With Hus’ injury not being too bad in the end, we thought it would be the right thing for him and us as a club for his development.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD