When Terry Brown settles into the AFC Wimbledon dugout on the opening day of the League Two season in August, he will be doing so as a Football League manager for the very first time.

The 58-year-old is a veteran of non-league, having played for the likes of Slough and Sutton and managing Hayes and Aldershot before finally achieving his place in the dreamland of the professional leagues with Wimbledon.

He may be a novice at it but he won't be the only one and is convinced he can cope with the step up.

"I think I know more about the second division than Paolo Di Canio does anyway," said Brown, referring to the new Swindon Town manager.

"I am sure all Swindon fans are incredibly excited about having an Italian legend as their manager but some of them must be asking themselves what he knows about that level - where is he going to get his players from?

"If he thinks he is going to get players of his calibre and skill then he is mistaken - he won't.

"It is a league I know a lot about and I know almost all the managers and have watched a lot of games this year.

"I know the calibre of players we need and I would say we do need to be a bit stronger physically."

Brown cut an agitated figure on the touchline during last Saturday's thrilling Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final, which ended with the Dons triumphing 4-3 on penalties against Luton after a goalless 120 minutes of action.

It wasn't for lack of trying that it was goalless as both teams missed glorious chances to win it, leaving Brown wiping his brow in relief or punching water bottles in frustration.

"The game deserved a goal," he said.

"They cold have won it in the 89th minute with a header but when the ball hit the post I thought maybe it is our day.

"But then we missed an open goal in the last minute of extra time.

"The last time I was in a play-off final with Aldershot we missed a header in front of an open goal in the last minute and then went on lose on penalties so I was thinking it was deja vu.

"But the script was perfect.

"The boyhood supporter Seb Brown saves two penalties and then Captain Marvel Danny Kedwell smashes the winning spot kick home.

"I just wish it would have finished after 90 minutes not 130 or whatever it was.

"I cannot do that every year but if you asked if I wanted to win the play-offs the same way next year then I would take it."