No Milton Keynes for Bluebirds as Don's move collapses

Last updated : 27 June 2003 By Michael Morris
Wimbledon will have to stay at Selhurst Park
The Dons will have to begin the season at Selhurst Park
Wimbledon's controversial move to Milton Keynes has been delayed for the foreseeable future.

They had been due to play at the National Hockey Stadium while a new football ground was built in the town.

However, the National Hockey Foundation has announced it has discontinued further discussions with the club or the joint administrators, who are seeking to resolve Wimbledon's relocation.

A statement from the NHF added: "Since the appointment of the joint administrators, NHF has endeavoured to maintain an opportunity for the Milton Keynes Consortium to identify and secure sufficient funds that would enable the conversion works at the National Hockey Stadium to take place.

"NHF now feel that they can no longer delay in the important action they must take in progressing and developing the future use of the Stadium for its primary purpose."

Wimbledon admitted last week that they were likely to begin the new season at Selhurst Park after failing to secure the necessary investment for a move to Milton Keynes.

The Dons are in administration and have yet to begin work on the National Hockey Stadium, which requires costly refurbishment before meeting Football League standards.

Talks with possible investors have yet to bear fruit, and the club's opening fixture against Crewe on 9 August will now take place in south London.

Supporters in Milton Keynes who have already purchased season tickets will be offered a complete refund, or they can keep their ticket and be reimbursed for every match played in south London.

"Those supporters who have purchased season tickets and are unable to attend matches at Selhurst Park will be refunded on a match-by-match basis," the club announced.

Wimbledon have so far sold about 3,500 season tickets for the 2003/4 campaign.