What does it grate so????

[Poshgill]

Comparing teams from the past to MK is not accurate. Yes, even Gills have had a name change and Arsenal moved grounds but they never alienated their fans or moved to gain a league position. That is exactly what Don's did. MK had a perfectly decent non-league side. If Winkleman had taken them on and come through the football league pyramid, they would have been much more respected. If Wimbledon had been unable to maintain their league status, then they should have been replaced by one of the clubs that have toiled for years to gain league status. I have asked a few MK fans who they supported before the club was formed and very few are honest. Some claim that they never supported anyone. A few say Watford or Cobblers. No one says Wimbledon which puts paid to any argument that Wombles fans would travel to see their team. Interestingly Winkleman has admitted that he went about it the wrong way and would do it the 'right way' if he could go back.

[Robpthegills]

I would rather spend my time disliking certain premier clubs.

Like man city who have got around the issue of players wages not exceeding income by approving a sponsorship deal with a company that is owned by the owners so in others words I will give myself all my money and we can pay whatever wages we want to mock the new regulations.

Or QPR who for the Third time running try to buy an entire squad in a transfer window. Harry Redknapp on the radio today saying "its terrible out there you try to strike a deal and an agent is trying to get him to sign elsewhere, its not a nice business" SAYS HE after hijacking the newcastle signing of a french striker by offering the player 70k a week after the player had agreed 40k a week at the toon, who now Romances Odemwingie who is with West Brom who are 8th in the premiership but wants to leave to join QPR on the promise of over double his salary. When it all goes wrong what will happen with these teams. Portsmouth and Leeds try to buy the glamour and both have nearly folded as a consequence. In fact if there was any justice Portsmouth would not exist anymore.

Thats what bugs me about football.

[Poshgill]

I'm not really interested in 'Hollywood' football as it will never affect the Gills. Money has corrupted the premiership and it just bores me. However, what happened at MK should concern us all. There but for the grace of god etc. I can't imagine Rimshot et al would be quite so supportive if Gills had been bought and moved to Andover (for instance).

[Garawa]

I agree with everything you have all said but everything you describe is emotive issues. When you strip it all away you get left with cold hard facts that AFC Wimbledon are a new club promoted through the pyramid system and therefore have not won the FA Cup and MK Dons are a (vile) rename and relocation (like many other clubs before them) of Wimbledon FC and therefore HAVE won the FA Cup. If they are a new club how did they start life in the Football League?

Emotions are such a huge part of football they really cloud judgement and facts. What Rob mentions however is much more clear cut, how these clubs can continue in this climate is digusting and deserves to fail especially as many other top clubs have reined in the spending and are far more prudent. I said a while back that Abramovich can sell a seat to his missus for £10m by taking out of one account and putting it in the clubs account. Its no different to taking it out of your pocket and putting it in your wallet instead. The rules need major reworking to avoid just a couple of clubs being super rich whilst the rest flounder. It would be better to reduce the percentage and base it on the overall sales of the lowest 50% cost price of tickets sold.

[Rimshot]

posh what you have always failed to address is the fact that had Wimbledon fans actually bothered to support the club it would never have moved. Winkelman has created a solvent, reasonably successful club playing in a great stadium,in front of decent crowds.-Afc Wimbledon's rump actually took the kick in the arse and,fair play to them, have risen again.
Net result more people watching league football in not one but two locations.
To me that looks fine.

[Poshgill]

I've never disputed that Wimbledon was a failing club. However, the fact remains that if they had been unable to maintain their league position, then they should have been replaced by a non-league club from the Conference. The precedent was already there with Accrington, Newport, Workington, who had all failed and were not bought out and moved to other towns, but were replaced non league teams. We should all be concerned with the way in which Winkleman secured the Dons, as, personally, it is the rot setting in and could possibly lead us down the road of the US where moving franchises is common place but does very little for the grass roots of the game.

[Rimshot]

Evidence suggests otherwise Posh, there has been no rush to emulate the MK template and in a country the size of the UK, with 94 existing league clubs, I can't see any immediate opportunities. MK had a rapidly increasing population with no league club to serve it and that set of circumstances doesn't apply very often. I don't think you can make relevant comparisons with the 'states as the geo-demographics are entirely different.

[Poshgill]

I suspect that there has been no rush to emulate MK as I'm not sure that the football league or FA would allow it to happen again. As I said, even Winkleman acknowledges that the move wasn't done correctly. I agree that MK's circumstances were unique, however, not only was it at the cost of Wimbledon, but several local teams suffered greatly. The local non-league side went under and the demise of Rushden & Diamonds was hastened as fasns opted to watch MK rather than travel to Rushden. (MK wasn't the sole reason R&D failed to proper, but it certainly didn't help. Gary is quite correct though. MK and AFC Wimbledon are 2 entirely seperate teams with neither team having any history. The team that won the FA cup as Wimbledon no longer exists. Just as Royal Engineers or Old Corinthians do not exist.

Doesn't stop me (and many others in the football community) loathing MK though. They may be a succesful model of a well run club, but I do and will always resent them and their clueless fans.

[Rimshot]

That's pretty irrational Posh, as for their fans, I don't know how you would make any kind of informed judgement. You work in MK, so do I. To me their fans are no more or less clued up than ours. The fact that they don't share your views might just be prejudicing your usually well-balanced outlook.

We've probably done this debate to death but I have met Winkelman, was impressed by him, also met their commercial team in the early stages of establishing the club here and ditto.

I'm a GFC fan but I like the way MK is run and I wish them well; unless they are playing us !!