Neal Ardley wants AFC Wimbledon’s transfer plans this summer to be focused on signing players on permanent deals.
The Dons have been a victim of their own success in the loan market in recent years after both Matt Tubbs and Michael Smith were snapped up half way through their spells at the club.
Tubbs was signed by Portsmouth in January of last season after hitting the back of the net 15 times, while Smith was snapped up by Swindon 12 months previously after bagging himself 10 goals.
And Ardley has said that he wants to concentrate on signing players on permanent deals but will dip into the loan market if it would attract a better calibre of player to the club.
“It’s always our first choice to get our own players.
“If Matt Tubbs was a free transfer that we could’ve signed on a permanent deal then we would’ve done it, but he was somebody else’s player.
“We want our own players first and foremost.
“If there were no players out there who we thought could score goals but there was one available on loan then you’ve got a decision to make.
“I know it’s bitten us on the bum a bit. You get the best out of them, play to their strengths, and then it becomes difficult to keep them.”
“I’m proud we brought in two players of their quality (Tubbs and Smith) for our fans to see scoring goals for us. They were the best players we could get.”
