AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson thanked fans and said he wants to put a team on the pitch the supporters can be proud of after the club sold a record number of season tickets.
Jackson is taking charge of his third season with the Dons, and has added Matty Stevens, Myles Hippolyte, Callum Maycock and John-Joe O’Toole to his squad so far this summer.
Wimbledon returned for the start of pre-season preparations this week.
“It makes it real when the fixtures come out. I can’t wait to get back into work tomorrow,” Jackson said on the club’s website. “The first game being at home makes it exciting and then we take on Bromley away for the first time in the Football League.
“We need to bridge the gap this season. Everyone would love to finish in the top three, but the most important thing is that we make the improvements which can get us into the mix for the top seven spots.
“I want to say a big thank you to our supporters as we’ve sold a record amount of season tickets. We’re flying with that and I think it reflects the positivity around the place. We can do something special together, but we can’t do it without the support that we get.
“We show prospective signings what the stadium is like when it’s full, it’s something we can really sell to them. So please keep getting behind the boys and we’ll look to give you a team on the pitch that you can be proud of.”
Meanwhile, defender Ethan Sutcliffe has signed a new two-year deal with the option of a third.
Sutcliffe, 20, has made three appearances for the Dons after his debut as a seventeen-year-old in the EFL Trophy against Crystal Palace in 2021.
“It’s a really good feeling to sign another contract with the club. I’ve been here for a while now so I understand how good a place to be it is,” Sutcliffe said.
“I’m looking forward to getting started in pre-season. I’ve got a great opportunity to get myself in the team for the first game of the season. I’ll be trying my hardest to achieve that.”
Jackson added: “Ethan made real strides last season with a really successful loan spell at Tonbridge Angels. Everyone was impressed with his performances and his professionalism and the way he handled senior football.
“So we are delighted to tie him down to a new contract and we look forward to helping him further develop his AFC Wimbledon career.”
Head of football operations Craig Cope said: “It’s great to see Ethan commit his future to the club. We were really impressed with his loan spell last season and we look forward to watching him develop further this season.”
