Dons will sell their only London land

Leo Spall13 April 2012

Wimbledon are ready to sell the only piece of land they own in south London.

As a Football Association arbitration panel sits today to rule on the club's planned move to Milton Keynes, Standard Sport can reveal the Dons will "listen to offers" for Prince George's playing field in Raynes Park.

They bought the 48-acre site for £1million two years ago and announced that they would build a £5m training facility to provide a link with the club's historic home at nearby Plough Lane.

Wimbledon chairman Charles Koppel said today, however: "We were in the Premier League when we bought it and do not have the £5m to develop it now. If someone else was interested we would listen."

Gene Saunders, spokesman for the local council, confirmed: "We are aware that Wimbledon are trying to sell Prince George's playing field."

The news will further anger Wimbledon supporters, who are bitterly opposed to the club's Milton Keynes scheme. They will see the sale of the land as evidence that Wimbledon are ready to sever all ties with London. Their fans are also furious that the FA hearing, which could last three days, is being held at a secret location in London but Koppel's garden was wrecked by vandals on Saturday and police are working on the theory that it was the work of Wimbledon fans.

Saunders said: "This sort of thing has nothing to do with true fans and I hope whoever did it is caught and punished."

Koppel has moved his family out of the country, hired extra security guards and will keep as low a profile as possible during the hearing, which has been convened to determine whether the Nationwide League acted properly when it refused Wimbledon permission to move to Milton Keynes.

The panel comprises David Dein, who is vice-chairman of both Arsenal and the FA, the York chairman Douglas Craig and lawyer Charles Holander QC, who will act as chairman.

Wimbledon sold their Plough Lane ground 11 years ago and have been tenants at Selhurst Park ever since.

Moving story with big holes in it
Why fans will be made to pay
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