Terry Brown spends Conference windfall cash
Wimbledon manager Terry Brown has put the finishing touches to his squad after convincing chief executive Erik Samuelson to spend some of the money that the club recently received from the Premier League.
Each Conference club received the windfall cash and the Dons have chosen to spend their share by splashing out on centre-back pair Fraser Franks and Ed Harris, and on striker Delano Sam-Yorke.
All three have been turning out for the Dons in pre-season games, with 19-year-olds Franks and Harris impressing enough to convince Brown to shelve plans for a season-long loan deal for Charlton’s Yado Mambo.
Franks (who was released by Brentford at the end of last season) and Harris (released by QPR) are likely to be used primarily to provide cover for regular centre-back pair Ismail Yakubu and Brett Johnson.
And Sam-Yorke, a product of Woking’s academy, will add depth to Brown’s striking options, especially as Mark Kwokeji has missed most of pre-season through injury.
Brown told the club’s official website: "Although my budget was [spent], the opportunity to sign three very talented young players into our squad was one that I felt would benefit the club both short term and, hopefully, long-term."
All three are likely to feature in Wimbledon’s final pre-season game against an Arsenal XI at Kingsmeadow on Saturday (August 7).
August 2, 2010