AFC Wimbledon

[Guest]

Last night there was an 87% vote in favour of admitting the new football club AFC Wimbledon to Ryman division 2. Sadly this wasn’t a big enough majority. I gather that the vote needed a 95% majority because there had been less than 21 days notice of the club’s application. I understand the voting system was quite complicated with the votes of some clubs being pooled, rather than the system being one club, one vote. But however it was done, it seems a few clubs voted against AFC Wimbledon joining. I – and most other Wimbledon fans – are incredibly angry at this. The League’s management committee had recommended accepting us; all the right boxes were ticked – we had the required financing, membership of the London FA; a limited company to provide the right corporate structure; a ground share at Kingstonian, and a manager and playing staff lined up. Yet a handful of club chairmen saw fit to turn down the income from gate receipts, programmes and beer money that would have been generated by 1,000 Dons fans coming to Ryman division 2 clubs. Frankly, I’m appalled and dismayed. Is the Ryman League scene so vibrant and financially healthy that clubs can afford to turn their nose up at this? Especially when there are spare places going in the League and no other club would have been prevented from joining? If you can shed any light on who voted against us – whether it was your club or any other – I’d like to hear from you as we clearly have some lobbying to do. Feel free to e-mail me at ianpollock@beeb.net. Best wishes, Ian Pollock.