The AFC Wimbledon lowdown ahead of 2023-24 season
The South London Press rounds up the transfer activity at AFC Wimbledon along with predicting the players and teams who could be at the top and bottom of the League Two standings.
Last season’s league position: 21st (League Two)
Top-scorer: Ethan Chislett (11)
Most appearances: Ethan Chislett (44)
Players in: Jake Reeves (Stevenage, free), Ryan Johnson (Stockport, free), Joe Lewis (Stockport, loan), Ryan McLean (Hereford), Alex Bass (Sunderland, loan), James Ball (Rochdale, free), Omar Bugiel (Sutton, free), Josh Neufville (Luton, free), James Tilley (Crawley) & Armani Little (Forest Green, below)
Players out: Zach Robinson (Dundee, loan), Alex Woodyard (York City, free), Will Nightingale (Ross County, loan), Quaine Bartley (King’s Lynn, loan)
KEY PLAYER: Ali Al-Hamadi – The striker, who signed from Wycombe last winter, hit the ground running and scored 10 goals in 19 games in the second half of the last campaign. Exciting to see what he can do in this upcoming season with a full pre-season with the squad.
Picture : Keith Gillard
THE PROSPECT: Morgan Williams – Made his league debut in the final-day defeat at Grimsby last season. Dons boss Johnnie Jackson has praised the 18-year-old has impressed during pre-season.
TOP TWO: Notts County, Stockport
PLAY-OFFS: Wrexham, Gillingham, Salford, Bradford
RELEGATED: Crawley, Newport
OPINION: Tom Large (9yrs podcast): “We have a squad capable of pushing for the play-offs. A lot of people have put us near a relegation battle, but I don’t think we will be. Omar Bugiel could be one of the biggest signings for us this year. He’s the target man we needed and can play a pass – he’s no scared to use his tactical nous to get into defenders and win the ball.”
Prediction: Mid-table, but we could string a few results together and push for the play-offs.
OPENING FIXTURES
August 5 – Grimsby v AFC Wimbledon (League Two)
August 9 – Coventry v AFC Wimbledon (EFL Cup)
August 12 – AFC Wimbledon v Wrexham (EFL Cup)
August 15 – Colchester v AFC Wimbledon (League Two)