Premiership boss blasts Dons

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore today hit out at Wimbledon's impending move to Milton Keynes.

"If they can't sustain a club in Wimbledon then they should end up playing where they deserve, in non-League football," he said.

"If Milton Keynes can sustain a club, then they should attempt to win promotion to the League.

"It is flawed logic on the part of the owners in terms of the fan base. After all, if they win the FA Cup again, where will the open-top bus go, Wimbledon or Milton Keynes?"

Wimbledon are bracing themselves for their lowest League attendance at Selhurst Park when fans begin a day of protest before tomorrow's curtain-raiser against Gillingham.

Supporters, angered by the prospect of the club moving to Milton Keynes, are planning peaceful demonstrations to persuade fans from both sets of clubs to boycott the match.

Yesterday, Wimbledon submitted a planning application to build a 12,000 seat temporary stadium in Milton Keynes and hope to move there by Christmas.

They also announced that the new logo on the team's shirts will be "Go MK'.

If fans stay away there could be a lower crowd than the 4,249 who watched the Dons play Walsall last November.

Wimbledon's Mark Williams said: "We may have to grow accustomed to having exceptionally small attendances at Selhurst Park early on this season.

"It's a Catch-22 situation for the fans because they want to make a stand but at the same time their actions won't help the club financially."

Full-back Darren Holloway faces a late fitness test on an ankle.

Manager: Stuart Murdoch
Final position last season: 9th
New signings: None
First three games: Tomorrow: Gillingham (H);
Tues: Grimsby (A);
17 Aug: Watford (A)