Dons get Milton Keynes green light

Sports Talk: Right move for Dons? Wimbledon have been given permission to move to Milton Keynes by an independent commission. A consortium led by Dons chairman Charles Koppel wants to build a 28,000-seat stadium at Denbigh North in Milton Keynes. Fans' sorrow The Football League blocked the proposed move twice but Koppel won an appeal to have the matter reconsidered. An independent commission was then set up by the Football League to re-consider the proposal and began hearing submissions from all sides last Tuesday. It has now found in favour of Koppel despite fans holding a vigil outside Football Association headquarters in Soho Square all week. The Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association is fiercely opposed to the move 70 miles from the club's traditional home of Plough Lane in Merton.

I've stood and watched Wimbledon since 1979 and now I don't have a club to support any more

Marc Jones

Supporters' spokesman Koppel and his consortium argue the club is losing £20,000 a day and that a move is the only way it will survive. "This decision brings to a close 10 months of uncertainty and will allow the club to achieve an exciting and sustainable future," Koppel said. "The commission, after a careful examination of the evidence, accepted that the club had no viable future unless it moved to Milton Keynes." But Wimbledon's supporters were left devastated by the decision. Marc Jones, spokesman for WISA, said: "It's pretty sickening. I've stood and watched Wimbledon since 1979 and now I don't have a club to support any more. "I won't be going to Milton Keynes. It has to be the death of our club. If it moves it will mean nothing to us." The FA was eager to emphasise that the decision was not a license for more clubs to move away from their homes. A statement read: "The commission has made it clear that their decision is based on exceptional circumstances particular to Wimbledon Football Club. "They see Wimbledon FC as a one-off. This is not the beginning of a franchise system.

The Football Association sees it as vital for the game to stop these circumstances ever happening again

FA statement "The Football Association is greatly concerned that this decision should not in any way be seen as a precedent. "The view of The Football Association is that for clubs to move is not in the best interests of the game. "However, this is binding on everyone under the Football League rules - there is no appeal. "This will be no comfort at all to the fans and supporters of Wimbledon. "The FA's submissions and those of supporter groups had many similarities and the FA shares their disappointment. "The Football Association sees it as vital for the game to stop these circumstances ever happening again."