AFC Wimbledon 0-2 Grays Athletic

Terry Brown hopes AFC Wimbledon’s decision to go full-time will put an end to embarrassing defeats like last night.

The Dons, so poor at home for the last few months, were humiliated against bottom side Grays Athletic.

It was the already-relegated Blues first away win for 16 months and their first victory since November.

Grays had shipped 89 goals this term but Wimbledon couldn’t even find one in an appalling performance that will surely make up the manager’s mind to overhaul his squad in the close season.

Brown now believes making the transition into full-time football is the club’s best option despite money remaining tight at Kingsmeadow.

Because the Dons now must pay players throughout the summer and in pre season, the wage bill will not substantially increase.

He said: “Let me tell you now, this is going to be the hardest rebuilding job I have had in my life.

“The finances aren’t there to replace senior players with senior players. We will be replacing senior players with youngsters. We are going to have to work so hard.

“The fact we’re going full-time is a real bonus for me. This club still has massive overheads and we’re not going to be in a position to compete with any of the big boys like Luton or Oxford at the top any time soon. It will be nowhere near their budget.

“I want to keep our spine and add one or two senior players. Other than that we will be adding young, hungry ones. It won’t be a big squad and we’ve got to plan properly.”

Brown hinted at a mass clear out after another abject performance against the Blue Square Premier bottom markers.

The hosts had the better of the first half but were undone nine minutes after half-time when Alex Osborn out-muscled Ben Judge and placed his shot beyond Seb Brown.

It was game over when Alex Rhodes’ clear dive conned the referee and Jamie Guy scored from the spot.

Nathan Elder’s horrific miss from under his own crossbar late on summed the home team up.

“I have got a really good idea of the positions I need to strengthen,” Brown added.

“I have asked the players, as and when they leave this club, where will they play in front of such loyal supporters? There were over 3,000 here and they were still getting behind the team even at 2-0. They’re feeling sorry for themselves.”