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Striker Tommy Wood, who has been released after three years at Burnley, has today signed a one year deal with League One club AFC Wimbledon and joined their development squad.

Having previously been with Reading, Wood joined Burnley as a scholar in the summer of 2015 after a successful trial and enjoyed two years in the youth team before winning a third year last summer and moving into the under-23 squad. He spent some of last season on loan in local non-league football with Barnoldswick but was one of a number of players released by the club ahead of a revamp at that level.

Towards the end of the season he went on loan to AFC Wimbledon where he impressed in their development squad games and that encouraged coach Alan Reeves to offer him a one year deal. The deal, which will commence on 1st July, was confirmed today.

Reeves said: “Tommy played really well against Bournemouth and Plymouth. He brings other players into play, he is strong, intelligent, and hard-working. I am looking forward to working with him. In the last 10 or 15 years academies have been producing numbers 10s, but now everyone is scrambling around looking for big number 9s. Tommy fits the bill. We are looking for a big number 9 for the first-team ideally as we’ve not been able to replace Tom Elliott since he left.

“Unless you are an out and out passing side, which we haven’t been, you are looking for a plan B. That plan B normally involves a target man when your backs are against the wall a little bit and you need a bit of a get-out ball. That’s why we’ve brought Tommy in, especially for the Under-23s.”

A delighted Wood said: “I got a phone call saying that Wimbledon wanted to take a look at me, so I trained for a few days here and played in a game. I thought I did well and Wimbledon invited me down for another couple of weeks to take a look at me. I really liked the place, the boys were really welcoming, and I enjoyed working with the manager, Reevesy, and the staff. I’m a target man and a good outlet. I play for the team, I play off people, and bring other players into play. I’d like to think I can get a few goals too.”

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