Wimbledon fans reject Crozier comments

Wimbledon supporters accused Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier of crying crocodile tears after he admitted the decision to allow the club’s move to Milton Keynes was “appalling“.

The FA has come under intense criticism for allowing Wimbledon to leave south London, with supporters fearing it could pave the way for a US-style franchise system where clubs move around the country at will.

But Crozier today spoke out against the move and hinted that action may be taken to stop it.

He told www.thefa.com: “The FA hasn’t given its seal of approval to this decision at all – quite the opposite. The FA is very much against it and personally I feel it’s an appalling decision to allow the club to move to Milton Keynes.

“We are looking into it because we don’t believe it’s a good thing for the game.”

Wimbledon chairman Charles Koppel was granted permission to relocate his club by an independent commission against the wishes of the Football League in May.

But the club has been deserted by its fans since, with just 668 turning up at a ghostly Selhurst Park for their opening home game of the season against Gillingham.

And the Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association reacted with scepticism to Crozier’s words.

WISA spokesman Kevin Rye said: “We have absolutely no confidence in what the FA say, and they can’t encourage us with bland statements.

“I hold them as responsible for this as I do Charles Koppel because they sat on their hands, and we’re not prepared to listen to these people again after they squandered our national game.

“By saying nothing before they have tacitly supported franchising in this country and the prospects for them rescuing the situation are negligible.

“The FA needs to reverse this decision and close the door to franchising but they have failed to do it time and time again.

“They have done absolutely nothing for Dons fans except offer them coffee and croissants when we demonstrated outside their headquarters – why should we listen to them now?”

Wimbledon fans have switched allegiance to newly-formed AFC Wimbledon, and 4,215 watched them lose 2-1 against Chipstead at Kingsmeadow on Wednesday, a record for the Combined Counties League.

But Wimbledon manager Stuart Murdoch believes fans should stay loyal to their clubs for life wherever they are based.

And he urged those fans who have deserted his side to stay away after his players were branded “scum” before their opening match of the season against Gillingham.

He said: “The divorce has taken place, can the two parties now get on with it and live happily ever after?

“It’s a sad situation for everybody but this has happened and it’s been decided.

“I supported Blackpool as a boy. I live 200 miles from Blackpool – I still support Blackpool.”