Ainsworth signs for £50,000

Last updated : 16 March 2003 By Michael Morris
The right winger is out of contract at Wimbledon at the end of the season and they knew he could leave for free. He's been playing in their first team and was in their line up at Gillingham last Tuesday.

Wimbledon were happy to get some return on a player that Sam Hammam paid £2m for 5 seasons ago.

Is Ainsworth the missing link? City have been searching for a right winger for some time and have been thwarted in efforts to get Luke Chadwick and John Robinson.

Ainsworth could go straight into the team for Tuesday massive home clash with Blackpool.

Sam Hammam said

"We've been trying to find somebody on the right since I first joined the club two and a half years ago. Now, at last, we have succeeded. Gareth will give us balance. He is a natural right-winger we've not had before. We tried to turn Josh Low into a winger, but it wasn't his natural position. Now Lennie Lawrence has another option - he has a full canvas to use as he wants."

"He can score goals, he can put in fantastic crosses, he can dribble past defenders. I am really excited about our new signing."

Lennie commented

"He has been in the Wimbledon first team, he plays wide, he's fast and direct. Gareth can also score goals. He has had a lot of injury problems, but he is fit now and will give us balance."

(Quotes - Wales on Sunday)