Promotion or bust for Dons

5:27pm Tuesday 29th April 2008

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Terry Brown has confessed that he would consider anything other than promotion a failure for AFC Wimbledon.

The Dons host AFC Hornchurch in the Ryman League Premier Division play-offs tonight (Tuesday), and Brown revealed his ambitions were simple ones.

He said: "If we go up, then it will have been a successful season - if we don't, it won't have been, simple as that.

"I have not really been satisfied with this season.

"Our target was to win the championship and we have not achieved that. It is a fickle game, football, and we could be heroes or nobodies within a week."

The fixture list threw up a quirk on Saturday, as the Dons faced their play-off rivals Hornchurch in their final league game, battling to a 1-1 draw.

Jon Main grabbed a late equaliser for Brown's men, and the manager was delighted to see his injury-blighted striker complete the game.

The Dons boss added: "The biggest bonus from the game was Jon having 90 minutes and getting on the scoresheet.

"It was important not to get beaten, but it was more important to get through the game without picking up any more injuries.

"We both picked shadow sides and I don't think either team took anything from the game, to be absolutely honest."

Although Brown has his sights set on promotion, he is canny enough to have begun planning for the next campaign, whatever the scenario.

He added: "We will have the nucleus of a very good side here next year regardless of whatever division we are in.

"It is never easy to come in and build a winning side in just one year.

"We are looking for consistency, as that is the one thing we have not had this year."