‘The hardest decision I have had to make in football’ – Ollie Palmer opens up on his emotional AFC Wimbledon exit

Ollie Palmer has opened up on his emotional exit from AFC Wimbledon after signing for National League promotion hopefuls Wrexham at the beginning of the week.

The Red Dragons paid a club record fee of £300,000 to prise the forward away from Plough Lane on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

Palmer, 30, joined the Dons in the summer of 2020 after he left Crawley Town. He made 52 appearances and scored 13 goals as well as playing a monumental role to help the Dons survive relegation to League Two under head coach Mark Robinson.

Wimbledon’s willingness to allow Palmer, their top goalscorer this season with eight, to depart has come as a surprise to many.

Reflecting on his move only 24 hours after it was completed, Palmer exclusively told the South London Press: “It’s easily the hardest decision I have had in football.

“The manager and the players know how emotional I was on the day that I left. They all saw it was an extremely difficult decision for me. I thought I would finish my career at AFC Wimbledon.

“The club agreed the figure [with Wrexham], but I had originally turned down the contract. I was saying to Wimbledon that I was very happy, but they just needed to offer me a new and long-term deal – which they weren’t willing to do.

“In the end, I had to weigh everything up and say: ‘I am technically out of contract right now, I have got another club offering me a long-term deal, and Wimbledon have gone down the road of signing younger players.’

“If I hit a certain amount of games, that would have given me another year on my contract, but I wanted another year or two on top of that.

“I was made aware that it was unlikely that I wouldn’t be re-signed again after that extension. I would be 31 by then, so it made my decision a lot easier in the end.”

Despite agreeing on the details of his contract with Wrexham prior to Wimbledon’s trip to Burton Albion last Saturday, Palmer played the full 90 minutes and scored the opener in the 1-1 draw. He knew it was his farewell appearance.

“I was very emotional in the changing room before the game,” said Palmer. “To sign off with a goal – to give the fans a little something – was special for me. I stayed honest and true to the club. I risked my long-term contract for one game for Wimbledon because I gave Robbo my word that I would always play for him and give everything while I wore the Wimbledon shirt.

“I don’t need a thank you for that – it was my job. I absolutely loved playing under Robbo, and that’s the least I could do for him.

“I never pushed for an exit. I just had a decision to make on what the two clubs told me in the end. I chose Wrexham as it was the better option for my long-term future.”

Palmer’s attributes had also become indispensable to Robinson. When he suffered a grade two calf strain in mid-September, the South Londoners only won one of their six games without him and slipped down to 17th in the League One table.

His return immediately pepped up the Dons attack. By his own admission he was playing the best football of his career.

Asked if it was difficult to step away from Wimbledon, Palmer replied: “Of course. As any player grows and they get older, they come into their prime, which I am doing now.

“It’s a shame I can’t give more to Wimbledon, but I am now dedicated to Wrexham, getting them promoted and giving them my very best to help this huge football club.

“I love Wimbledon and I really do wish them the absolute best. They are in great hands under Robbo – he has a modern philosophy on football and wants to change the industry.

“Robbo has big ambitions and I just hope the club can support him in doing that. If they do, you will have one of the best managers in the league on your hands.

“Robbo pulled me in before the two clubs agreed a fee, and he said how much he valued me and how much he wanted me to stay. I told Robbo how much I loved the club and wanted to stay – we had a very good heart-to-heart.

“In the very end, when I wanted two long-term contracts, I only had one to choose from. That was nothing to do with the manager – I know Robbo had his full belief in me – it’s just the new direction of the football club.

“I spoke to Joe Palmer [chief executive] the day before I left and he wished me well and told me how much he loved having me. He’s been great with me, too.

“It’s a shame that I didn’t feel as though there was enough done to keep me, but I understand the club’s position – I chose a new future which is really exciting for me.

“Wrexham is one of the oldest football clubs in the country, and they have a hugely passionate football town.

“You have 9,000 fans here every week at the Racecourse, and they’re fighting for promotion.

“It’s something that I want to be involved in. To get them back to the Football League, where they deserve to be, would be a fantastic achievement.”

Hollywood actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, who own Wrexham, have shown that they are not afraid to bankroll the club in a bid to win promotion back to the Football League.

Palmer said that the personal terms tabled to Palmer were “irresistible”.

Palmer vehemently denies that the move is purely for financial reasons.

“I never once insisted that I wanted to leave.

“Wrexham didn’t see me as someone who only had one or two years left – they know that I can play until I am 35.

“I am coming into my prime now, and I felt that Wrexham valued that and believed in me to give me a long-term contract.

“It’s nothing to do with the financial aspect – it’s to do with my stability and long term future.

“Hopefully, one day, I can come back to Plough Lane and get a fantastic reception. The fans are unbelievable, Joe Palmer has been brilliant, and the gaffer, staff and players have all been amazing.

“AFC Wimbledon ranks at the very top of my career – it’s been the best time of my career.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD AND PAUL EDWARDS