AFC Wimbledon favourite Adebayo Akinfenwa could be leaving the CRRS for a new career abroad.

The 33-year-old striker signed a two-year deal with the Dons last summer, but it contained a clause stating that if promotion to League One was not achieved inside one season, the deal could be reviewed.

Boss Neal Ardley has put an improved offer on the table, but Akinfenwa is understood to be considering offers from overseas.

However, Ardley is convinced that unless something “massive” comes out of the woodwork, the club’s leading goal-scorer last season will remain a Dons player.

He said: “When Bayo signed for us, he had better offers from elsewhere, but he wanted to come and play for me.

“It was a two-year deal, but Bayo and his agent insisted on the clause and there is nothing we can do about that otherwise we would not have been able to get the player to sign.

“If I turned round and said you are not having that clause, and they turned round and said we’re not signing – I believe I am doing the wrong thing.

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“Unfortunately, you have to bow down when you’re trying to attract good players.”

Akinfenwa and his agent have until the end of June to respond to the Dons’ improved offer, although Ardley is convinced any decision will be made by mid-June.

“I don’t think Bayo will go – the only way we will lose him will be to somewhere abroad. If he stays in this country he will be playing for AFC Wimbledon next season,” Ardley added.

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“He is not going to mess me about, we’ve had in-depth conversation, and he’s been given improved terms on the back of a great season.

“Bayo now has to take that away, enjoy his summer knowing he has that contract on the table and then make a decision.

“We won’t win a battle if he gets an offer from abroad that appeals to him and sets his family up for life, and we would not expect to.

“But I am confident that, unless something massive comes out the woodwork, Bayo will be with us next season.”

In response to comments made on Twitter, Ardley has also moved to defend the loss of Matt Tubbs to Portsmouth in January, despite his signing a one-year loan deal.

Tubbs, who scored 13 goals in his five-month stay, made his final appearance in the FA Cup defeat to Liverpool, and the Dons struggled for the remainder of the season.

Ardley said: “Matt did sign a one-year loan deal, but there was a clause that Bournemouth had meaning they could review it half way through the season – there was nothing we could do about that.

“But we knew the only way we would lose Matt would be to Portsmouth, but they did not want him in the summer.

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“But they changed their mind half-way through the season and I could not have the foresight to know that they would be having a stinker and would want to sign Matt.

“That was the only way we were going to lose him, unfortunately that happened.

“There are things in my control and things out of my control, and that was one.

“It was a one-year loan and Bournemouth called him back because they knew they had a chance to get rid of him to Portsmouth.”