Irish investor told to mind own business

The Irish businessman spoke out in the Comet last week after confirming he made an approach to buy Dons before becoming Peterborough United chairman.

But Wimbledon Independent Supporters' Association chairman Simon Wheeler has told him to concentrate on keeping his own house in order.

"We believe it is in the best interests of Wimbledon supporters and the community that the Dons Trust remains the sovereign body of AFC Wimbledon," he said.

"We are sure Peterborough fans would prefer MacAnthony ran their football club rather than made statements about another that prefers to remain a fan-owned entity."

The Dons board have been working on a fans' review since rebutting MacAnthony's takeover bid in July.

Chairman Erik Samuelson started the process immediately after the negotiations, but had to postpone his plans after taking over from Kris Stewart.

But it is due to begin again and Samuelson wants to get the heart of the matter through an open debate with all concerned.

"Of course I have my own opinions on how the club should be run, but I am keen to stop talking and listen to what the fans think," he added.

The review takes place over the next three months and it is hoped it will provide a blue-print for the future, which could see the club turn professional to realise their dreams.

Boss Dave Anderson, who targeted reaching the Nationwide Conference in the next five years, thinks that maybe an inevitable step.

"I don't know how much it will cost - or how we would fund it - but I am certain we would need to go full-time if we want to stand a chance of competing," he added.

It is a move former chairman Stewart believes would take a minimum of £1million a year to achieve, presenting the club with their biggest challenge.

How do they make the leap from part to full-time while staying true to their roots as a fan-owned enterprise?

"We need to figure out how to bridge that financial gap, but I believe there are ways of raising money without selling control of the club," he said.

"We have to maximise the ground's commercial opportunities, and embracing people who want to help."

This kind of thinking will alert the attention of fans groups such as Yellow & Blue Alliance, who successfully campaigned to stall plans to lower the number of elected members on the board recently.

But, while most Dons fans balk at the idea of losing autonomy, some now believe all options must be considered.

Xavier Wiggins, one of the founding members of WISA and the man who introduced Darragh MacAnthony to the club, said: "A part of me will always be gutted he is doing the good stuff with someone else.

"I am standing for election to the Dons Trust board in the hope we research what the fans want and, if necessary, what sacrifices need to be made in terms of the governance."

The board has always been the driving force behind AFC Wimbledon. An election is under way, with about a dozen candidates vying for two places on the board, and, with an increasing number of factions in the fan base, the campaign could get quite heated.

Ronan Warde is one ex-Dons AFC Wimbledon supporter whose disaffected views have upset many in the club.

"The club clearly needs to be run as a business if it is to move forward but, since it was made into a plc, I think it lost something," Warde said "I stopped supporting Dons for a number of reasons, but mainly because it became just like supporting any other club.

"That is the big danger - fans will lose interest if they no longer feel part of the running of the club."

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