AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley admitted he will have no hiding place when the new League Two season kicks-off this weekend.

Last season, Ardley arrived at the Cherry Red Records stadium in October, faced with a side riddled with injuries, lacking form and staring a long, hard season in the face.

However, this season the 40-year-old is at the helm from the opening game at Torquay United on Saturday, with the team he has built and his coaching techniques under scrutiny.

But Ardley is ready for the challenge, and he is adamant the Dons will improve on last season’s nail-biting drama.

“This is my team now and I understand that with that comes pressure – there can be no excuses and no hiding place,” Ardley said.

“I cannot go on about the problems at the club that I inherited, but I have a team around me that I know is up for the challenge and will not hide.

“I am confident we will do better than last year, but we have possibly 10 new players in the squad so improvement is not going to happen overnight.

“It will take time to find our best shape, we will tinker here and there, but it will come and it will be good.”

Ardley has been delighted with the pre-season build-up as injuries have been kept to a minimum, although Will Antwi will miss the opening two to three weeks after having an operation for a hernia.

Wimbledon Times: Will Antwi

Out: Will Antwi will miss the opening weeks of the season after under-going a hernia operation         SP72027

However, Ardley’s wish to play three centre-backs, including Antwi, remains intact as the club is working to finalise a contract with Rhys Weston, who can play anywhere along the back line.

Ardley said: “Defence was an issue for us and now we are strong in that department. “Preferably we’d have Alan [Bennett], Andy [Frampton] and Will – but Rhys can fit in there.

“At full-back, we have Barry [Fuller], Callum [Kennedy], Jim [Fenlon] and again Rhys – and we have not even mentioned Chris [Arthur] or George [Francomb].

“Rhys has done very well in pre-season and because we have done good business we have a little left over in the pot – hopefully, we will have something sorted with Rhys very soon.”

Following the Torquay opener, the Dons have a much shorter trip to Millwall on Tuesday for the first round of the Capital One Cup, before the visit of Wycombe Wanderers on August 10.