AFC Wimbledon sack their manager

AFC Wimbledon have chosen to sack their manager after the club suffered a 2-0 defeat against Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday.

The Wombles boss Glyn Hodges said sorry to fans after the loss, leaving them 21st in the League One table, taking 22 points from 25 games played this season.

Points have become few and far between for his since the turn of the year but Hodges, who himself was booked in today’s game, did admit that their most recent loss was the first time he had seen his players adopt a defeatist attitude.

AFC Wimbledon have taken just two points taken from the last 33 available and five home defeats on the spin.

Pressure has been building on Glyn Hodges as his side now go winless in 11 league games after today.

“Apologies to the fans because we know what this one means to them,” said Hodges before AFC Wimbledon chose to sack their manager.

“I thought we were good the way we came out of the blocks in the first half, and we looked like the side that would win.

“I think if you came into the dressing room at half-time and told me we were going to come out and lose 2-0 tonight I’d have thought you were mad.

“I think it was one of those ones where whoever scored the first goal was going to win this one.

“To be fair that’s the first time I’ve actually seen their heads go down – after that second goal went in. They’re feeling sorry for themselves at the moment but we don’t need that, we need players to pick themselves up and work hard.

“We need to improve and we know that we are in trouble if we don’t. We know what the problems were and will have to fix it now.”

The victory moved Russell Martin’s side nine points clear of the relegation zone.

Martin made a point of reinforcing the history and importance of this fixture to his players before the game and it paid off in the second half.

Matt O’Riley and Matthew Sorinola scored within two minutes of each other to snatch the game away from their rivals.

“Another win and another really strong performance,” said Martin. “We had to struggle for control a bit in the first half but I’ve spoken to the boys about matching the fight on the pitch.

“I spoke to the boys yesterday to contextualise this game for them, as did the chairman, because they get all types of questions thrown at them but they dealt with it brilliantly.

“It felt like a real team performance today. The togetherness they showed out on the pitch is really important for me and to do it in a game like today was fantastic.

“The longer the game goes on the more control we have because we have put a lot of work into their legs.

“I think we’ve won every game where we have scored first, apart from Burnley in the cup, so we need to navigate that first 20 or 30 minutes when other teams have more energy.”

AFC Wimbledon has today parted company with first team manager Glyn Hodges and assistant manager Nick Daws by mutual consent. We thank Glyn and Nick for their contributions to the club. Full statement: https://t.co/7rs1bJVsKV #AFCW pic.twitter.com/yXjWNtWtcS

— AFC Wimbledon (@AFCWimbledon) January 30, 2021

CLUB STATEMENT:

AFC Wimbledon have parted company with first team manager Glyn Hodges and assistant manager Nick Daws by mutual consent.

Club CEO Joe Palmer said: “It is with a genuinely heavy heart that I have to announce that we have parted company with Glyn.

“After a strong start to the season when the team was arguably over-performing, the recent run of results left us in a difficult position. We need to do everything to ensure our survival in League One and after a brief chat Glyn and I have agreed that a parting of the ways today is in the best interests of Wimbledon.

“I think it says it all about the man and his love for the club that we were able to come to this decision together. I want to place on record my thanks to Glyn and Nick for their efforts in my time here, and I wish them both every success in the future. Glyn’s service to Wimbledon goes back a long way and he leaves the club today with our thanks for all he has done for us over the years, as player, coach and manager.”

Glyn leaves Wimbledon after making a valuable contribution to maintaining our League One status, initially as Assistant Manager to Wally Downes. Following the departure of Wally, Glyn took over as Caretaker Manager and sparked a winning run that meant he was appointed as permanent manager on 23 October 2019. He guided us to League One safety last season before the campaign was ended prematurely. Of course, Glyn will always have a special place in the hearts of Dons fans after playing a big part in the club’s remarkable rise through the leagues in the 1980s, making over 200 league appearances after joining us as an apprentice 16-year-old.

The club thanks Glyn for his contribution during two spells with Wimbledon and we are also very grateful to Nick Daws for the part he played after joining us two years ago. Initially appointed as Head of Recruitment, Nick helped to establish an extensive database for our scouting network, putting a new recruitment platform in place that the club will further look to build upon in years to come. Nick became Assistant Manager shortly after Glyn’s appointment in October 2019 and he played a major part in maintaining our status as a League One club.

Dons Trust Board Co-Chair Jane Lonsdale added: “I have immense respect for Glyn and all he has achieved in the game, not least in his two spells with us. As a player everyone tells me he was an absolute joy to watch; as a coach he played an integral role in the Great Escape; as manager he led us to safety in League One last year. I cannot thank him enough for all he has given to the club over the years.”

Mark Robinson has been placed in interim charge of first team duties.

The former Wimbledon, Watford, Sheffield United and Hull player leaves the club, picking up a win percentage of just 29.0%, winning 18, drawing 18 and losing 26 of his 62 games he managed with them.

Fans, mostly MK Dons, reacted as details emerge that AFC Wimbledon sack their manager…

@max_salt_: Thought he was doing a good job

@WWEICEJay98: It would be great it #MarcusEvans could do the same and sack #Lambert after today’s draw with #Crewe! Come on. Get it done! #LambertOut #itfc

@TaylorArmitage: that’s strange he seemed to have them playing well

@mkbaz22: cheerio. Shame, doing such such a good job

@Calum_Jackson96: We are mk, we are vile

@ruoss_toby: Noooo that is the worse news ever, he’s doing such a good job

@ReeceHeard_: My heart bleeds for him.

@GillsInTheBlood: Shame that.

@maxjoshwright: WHEEEEEYYYYY

@hackneyhaz: If true then I think we all know that, while we love the bloke, this needs to happen.

@LukePenningVGP: Take note @IpswichTown #itfc

@slough_womble: Personally think it will be a mistake… however it’s a results business although partly dictated by budget..good luck to whoever get’s job but can’t see a Wally great escape happening twice

@DannySullivan02: How on earth can you have watched us play this season and come to that conclusion

@coppock_d: Bring back @simonbass10 be the first move maybe not as manager but definitely as assistant or at least on the coaching team. Massive mistake not keeping him

@pieman80: *cough

@DanProbert1889: Thanks Glyn, Wimbledon legend

@RichLines: I don’t like to see anyone lose their job, thanks for the time & effort, sadly it just wasn’t good enough. We were down anyway on this run & current set up. We still may go down but we must try a new approach. Players don’t ultimately care about our journey, we just need 100%

@afcgrandad: Thanks for your efforts Glyn – we now need a strong leader who can re-ignite the playing squad…

@DannySullivan02: Excellent news. Now get someone in with a bit of tactical knowledge and we can start to look up the league

@BigTidiGothGirl: About time, now go get Danny Cowley

@AlanSmi46019009: Please go get Danny Cowley Please please please

@edward_w97: A shame, but when you look at the precarious situation #afcw are in, it had to be done. 9 points from 15 games, fewest of anyone in League One. 33 conceded in that time as well…