New chief's Dons squad takes shape

9:12am Wednesday 23rd May 2007

Comments (2)   Have your say »

New AFC Wimbledon manager Terry Brown is focused on getting Roscoe Dsane and Wes Daly to commit their futures to the club after securing the services of four first-teamers.

Brown, who took over as Dons boss last Tuesday, told the Comet he had already tied centre-halves Antony Howard and Paul Lorraine, midfielder Luke Garrard and left-back Michael Haswell to the club And he is hopeful of adding Dsane and Daly to a growing list of names who have signed new deals at Kingsmeadow.

Brown said: "Contract negotiations for Wes and Roscoe are ongoing.

"We have taken up the option on Wes, so that should be settled in the next few days."

However, the former Aldershot boss admitted keeping Dsane was not yet a done deal.

"Roscoe is a bit more complicated. I would love him to stay but his ambition has always been to become a professional footballer," Brown said.

"I wouldn't want to be the one to take that away from him. If a Conference or league club come in for him, I expect him to move."

The new Dons chief has stressed he is keen on keeping his current back four together, meaning right-back Simon Sweeney could also be offered a deal, while 34-year-old Rushden & Diamonds defender Jason Goodliffe is in talks over a move to Kingsmeadow.

Brown has also revealed he is close to finalising a deal that would see reserve-team coach Simon Bassey take on a first-team role after hearing glowing reports about the former Charlton man's credentials.

Brown is expected to release players he deems surplus to requirements to facilitate bringing in his own players and, while he refused to name names, he confirmed that the departure of some members of the existing squad was inevitable. Lee O'Leary, one of Dave Anderson's final signings, has already been released.

"I will have to juggle the squad a bit because I want to bring in my own players," Brown said.

"It has been a case of contacting the existing players - I have had talks with half of the current squad.

"I will be having a good chat with the playing squad with regards to them coming or going as soon as possible."

Any player cull could signal the end of Dons careers for the likes of Chris Gell, Steve Butler and Lee Kersey, who were only handed bit-part roles under Dave Anderson last season.

Brown, who has become the club's first full-time manager, has ruled out raiding his old club Aldershot for players as he looks to stamp his authority on the Dons squad.

"Because we are talking about the Ryman Premier, it would mean players going from full-time to part-time so that is probably not going to happen. But I will be bringing in players I have worked with before."

Brown says he could be on the verge of signing "a great big target man" before the end of the week to add to the capture of former Wimbledon FC favourite Marcus Gayle, who rejoined the club last Friday.