Dons fans have hailed Wimbledon FC chairman Charles Koppel the king of comedy after he said he would welcome back Wimbledon fans when they move to Milton Keynes.

Mr Koppel's remarks on Sky Sports News, on Friday, sparked an angry backlash from Wimbledon Independent Supporters' Association.

WISA chairman Nicole Hammond believes Mr Koppel is greatly mistaken.

He said: "Mr Koppel seems to think although fans are foregoing the opportunity to watch his outfit as it plays in Selhurst Park as they have set up a new club that is proud to be from Wimbledon finally moving to Milton Keynes will make the scales drop from their eyes and Clapham Junction will be heaving on a Saturday afternoon as fans jostle to get on a train for the 140-mile round trip."

Nicole Hammond, WISA chair, said Mr Koppel had repeatedly shown himself to either "not understand what motivates football fans or else he does understand and is simply deliberately ignoring supporters' wishes".

WISA also called upon the Football League to think very carefully about approving the club's move to the Hockey stadium.

"The FA Commission approved a move to a permanent 28,000-seater stadium in Denbigh not a 6,000 capacity temporary Meccano stadium.

"This is Selhurst Park all over again a club moves to a temporary ground but with no plans in guarantees about what to do next," said a spokesman.

"The league have said they are against temporary moves unless they can be sure it's temporary.

"But with no land, no planning permission and precious little information about the finances, Wimbledon Football Club are in no position to prove that and until they do, they shouldn't be allowed to go."

January 31, 2003 10:30