Why AFC Wimbledon had no choice but to sack Terry Brown

Yesterday was a sad day in the short life so far of AFC Wimbledon. Manager Terry Brown was dismissed after five years in charge, which included three promotions.

AFC Wimbledon were formed in 2002, in response to the enforced move from the 'old' Wiimbledon being moved to Milton Keynes, against the wishes of supporters.

10 years on the MK Dons are just one division above the small club which formed by holding trials on Wimbledon Common.

A long and complicated process began, which saw them enter the Combined Counties League, a division which inhabits such giants as Chessington and Hook United, and Staines Llamas.

AFC Wimbledon's rise was swift, and in truth for supporters, likely quite fun, with the ultimate goal of re-entering the Football League realised in 2011, nine years after their formation.

While fellow Conference promotees Crawley Town made light work of League Two, AFC Wimbledon struggled, finishing just 16th. This season has been even worse, they won on the opening day, but have been without a victory since.

Acting to axe Terry Brown was a sad decision to make, but one even the manager seemed to accept, given the way he appeared to bid farewell to supporters on Tuesday night after their 1-0 loss to Torquay.

So where do they go from here? Survival and consolidation is the clear goal for this season. AFC Wimbledon may have started out with an ethos of being absolutely pure, a club run by football fans for football fans, but the issue of money which dominates the modern game was always a factor.

As they rose up the divisions, the more money was and is required to compete. Now they are in League Two, the financial factor is more of an issue than ever.

AFC Wimbledon have grand plans ahead for their future. They announced earlier this year plans to build a new stadium in Plough Lane, just yards from the original team's real home, with the help of Merton Council.

The potential big investment, like any in this day and age, is finely balanced. The club can ill-afford relegation, as it was only a play-off penalty shootout win which gained them promotion in the first place.

The Blue Square Premier is not an easy division to get out of, and shorn of the momentum and excitement about finally reaching the promised land of the top division, the club could struggle to instantly bounce back if they went down.

Relegation would mean a loss of income, and potentially call a halt on any such project for a new stadium. It is why, as reluctant as they may have been, on deciding it would be beneficial to the club to bring new blood into the management set up, sacking Brown was inevitable.

image: © Matthew Wilkinson

Dan Coombs

@hitcdancoombsGoogle+more stories from Dan Coombs

Dan Coombs is a writer who is keen to embrace the internet revolution. He first started writing for us in June 2011 and commenced his new role as Sports Editor in February 2012.

As a trained journalist he has met famous faces from Mr T to Boris Johnson. He once featured in an England World Cup music video too, but it did not make the charts.

He grew up wanting to be a Formula 1 driver, but it looks like this dream has passed him by. Instead, he hopes you enjoy reading his writing on our site, as we seek to debate the day's sporting hot topics.