Fresh on the back of earning promotion into League One, AFC Wimbledon have confirmed their retained list. Neal Ardley is plotting for what is likely to be a survival campaign and he has decided to let three players leave the club.
One additional player is still in contract talks with the club over potentially extending his stay. Other than that, the remainder of last season’s squad remains under contract going into the new campaign.
As widely expected, striker Adebayo Akinfenwa will leave the Cherry Red Records Stadium. The 34-year-old signed off his Dons career by scoring a spot kick at Wembley on Bank Holiday Monday in their 2-0 League Two Play-Off Final victory over Plymouth Argyle.
Ardley insists it is a move which will eventually suit all parties, but concedes a very popular member of the squad will be moving on,
“When Bayo signed, he said this was the start of something good and that has been proven to be the case. He is a guy I get on with immensely and I have a lot of respect for him. He was player of the year in his first season and rightly so because his contribution in terms of goals and assists was phenomenal.
“When we look at landmark occasions for this club in recent years, Bayo has been at the forefront of them with his goals against Liverpool and Milton Keynes. He also played a massive part against Accrington to get us to the play-off final and in helping us to achieve promotion at Wembley.
“What Bayo has brought to the club in terms of his personality off the pitch has also been immense. Every club he has been at, including Gillingham, Northampton and Wimbledon, have always held him in the highest esteem when he has left. We cannot thanks him enough, but it’s a new era for him and a new era for us. He will be sorely missed by everyone at AFC Wimbledon.”
Sean Rigg and Callum Kennedy completes the list of those who will be moving on, whilst Connor Smith remains in talks with the club to extend his stay.
Speaking on their departures, Ardley wanted to thank them for all of their hard work during their time with the club,
“Sean played a massive part last season, but this season he has sometimes played out of position on the right due to the form of Andy Barcham. Sean has always given his best wherever he has been asked to play. He feels that he has played in a lot of big games and has achieved a lot in his two years at the club. We thank Sean for his efforts and we know he is going to do well at the next club that gets him.
“Callum is at an age now where he needs to play more regularly and we cannot offer him that due to the form of Jon Meades. We thought it best to give Callum the opportunity to play elsewhere, but we shook hands and had a hug. He has been a fantastic servant to this football club.”
