AFC WIMBLEDON only guaranteed survival a few hours ago but Neal Ardley says the preparations for next season have already begun.

The fight for survival went down to the wire and goals from Jack Midson and Gary Alexander secured a 2-1 win against Fleetwood Town to see them beat the drop.

Boss Ardley was overjoyed with the achievement but already has one eye on next season, revealing the foundations have been laid for another crack in League Two.

He said: “We had a plan. We knew that our season, our revival, couldn't start until January. We had a lot of injuries. We didn't feel the squad was quite up to what we wanted to do. We weren't fit enough. There were a number of things that we inherited that made it tough.

“We worked very hard in January. It was a baptism of fire. It was my first transfer deadline and we were brilliant. I'm so proud we've got over the line. I can't hide behind any excuses [next season]. When I came in I said that we couldn't play the way I'd have liked to, we played the way we had to.

“I'd like to change that next season but it's going to take a pre-season. We will work over the summer and hopefully we can produce a team that will really kick on. It [the planning for next season] has already started. What was difficult was that we didn't know what direction we'd be going in, but we do now and it's started.”

Dons finished the season 20th in the League Two table, having been 23rd when today's final round of fixtures kicked off.

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