AFC Wimbledon plans new home at Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium

AFC Wimbledon has revealed its plans to return to the London Borough of Merton with the redevelopment of Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium into a new 22,000-capacity venue.

According to the club, the initial stage will deliver a multi-purpose stadium with a capacity of 12,000 - part of a wider development that will fund the construction of its new home.

It will be the first time a club playing under the Wimbledon name has played in Merton since the former Wimbledon Football Club (WFC) was forced to leave Plough Lane in 1990.

WFC played its home matches at Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park for more than 10 years after plans to revamp Plough Lane to comply with the Taylor Report were deemed to be infeasible.

AFC Wimbledon, currently competing in npower League Two, was formed in 2002 following the controversial decision to relocate WFC - now called MK Dons - to Milton Keynes.

Erik Samuelson, chief executive of AFC Wimbledon, said: "We have a long way to go and many major hurdles to clear, but we want to build a stadium that is embedded in the community."

Merton Council leader Stephen Alambritis added: "There is all-party support for AFC Wimbledon's ambition to return to their roots and come back to Merton."

Click here for more information about AFC Wimbledon's plans to return to the London Borough of Merton.