An emotional Neal Ardley has called on a section of AFC Wimbledon fans to stop living in the past and get behind new goalkeeper Ryan Clarke.

The Wimbledon boss believes his No1 is being made the scapegoat for his side’s difficult start to life in League One, especially by those still hankering after Kelle Roos, the man Clarke replaced between the sticks.

Roos became a huge fans favourite while on loan from Derby last term, but subsequently returned to his parent club before joining League One rivals Bristol Rovers.

Such comparisons with a keeper who proved beyond Dons’ budget are unfair claimed Ardley, who insists it is time to move on.

“I find it really sad when six games into a season there are already people making it difficult for Ryan,” he said.

“The biggest thing Clarkey has done wrong is he is not Kelle Roos in a lot of our fans’ eyes and that’s rubbish.

AFC Wimbledon's first League One win in pictures:

“We could not afford Kelle Roos – he would have ended up being our highest paid player and we did not have the money for him.

“I said at the start of the season we have to move on. He has gone to Bristol Rovers they can afford him.

“We have tried to address it and bring in the type we need in Ryan and now we are going to stick by him and try and make him better. I wish the fans would give him that opportunity too.”

A high profile clanger in defeat to Bolton last month didn’t help the relationship between keeper and fans, while Saturday’s 2-1 win over Chesterfield saw him produce another mixed bag.

A stunning late reflex save from Conor Wilkinson helped to atone for an earlier incident where he allowed a long punt to bounce over his head, meaning he needed a defender to bail him out.

So it seems the jury is still out on the former Oxford United custodian.

Gaffer: Neal Ardley
Fans' favourite: Kelle Roos

Ardley though insists it is wrong to magnify the errors of one player, while turning a blind eye to those made by others just because they are a more established part of the Wombles’ furniture.

“We have got a player who is here who I think is going to be very good for us. He needs support and we are going to give it to him in terms of the team and the staff,” he added.

“He needs it from the crowd too and there is a lot of poor stuff from us, we are a better club than that.

“There are two or three outfield players who have made five mistakes that have directly led to a goal and I don’t see them picking on them.

“You can’t pick and choose. If you are going to pick on people, then pick on them for the same reasons. If you are going to support your team support your team.”

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