OMAR Bugiel wished former club Forest Green all the best in their relegation battle following yesterday’s 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon.
The play-off chasing Dons shared the spoils with League Two’s basement side after Ali Al-Hamadi’s 12th minute equaliser levelled the scores following Matty Stevens’ earlier header for the hosts.
Like Al-Hamadi, this was Bugiel’s final game for Wimbledon potentially until the middle of February as the pair now jet off to represent their countries in the Asia.
And the departing Lebannon striker was happy to pass on his best wishes to a club he represented 35 times seven years ago following the New Year’s Day stalemate in the rain.
Bugiel told afcwimbledon.co.uk: “We’ll take a point from here, it’s a tough place to come.
“I don’t believe that some parts of the pitch were safe enough to play on, but it is what it is.
“They had a plan to stop us. They did a good job to stop that free-flowing football we play up front, which we’ve been successful with.
“We’ve just got to keep going and everything will be fine again.”
He added: “I signed my deal at Forest Green in 2017 and it’s a lovely community place, where people are so friendly.
“Even in the bar just now, I remembered people from the past.
“When I was here, we got promoted and they kicked on from there.
“Now they find themselves in a different position, but hopefully they’ll be all right, move forward and get out of those relegation positions.”
Manager Johnnie Jackson, meanwhile, admits he could potentially dip into the market now the window is open to help Wimbledon deal with the absence of Bugiel and Al-Hamadi.
He explained: “We know it’s going to leave us light in that area of the pitch. It’s something we’re going to look into.
“We have options in house – Josh Davison has been playing really well, Josh Neufville came on in that position and young Aron Sasu, who’s not had so much game time, is someone that we’re really excited about.
“The boys will have to step up.
“If there’s opportunities to get help from elsewhere, we will look at that.
“I always say that it would have to be the right fit for us.
“Losing those two will be a bit of a blow, but if something is of interest, we will look at it.”
Wimbledon at least now have the rest of this week to prepare for Saturday lunchtime’s home FA Cup tie with Ipswich.
Jackson’s side have certainly been busy over the past nine days and begin 2024 in the play-off zone, an effort the boss is proud of.
He said: “We wanted more but you look at the festive period as a whole – we got seven from four games, which isn’t terrible.
“It could’ve been more but what we’ve done is pick up points regularly and stayed in those play-off positions.
“It’s been a really tough ask, it’s physically demanding and the lads have given me everything during the period, so I can’t ask for anymore from them.
“The way they’re running, fighting and tackling for the badge is brilliant.”
