Are the Dons' days numbered?
The turnout demolished the previous worst of 2,077 for the Dons' game against Coventry earlier this season.
And 227 of those who turned up came from South Yorkshire to support the Millers.
If there is to be a lower crowd this season at Selhurst it could be next Tuesday, when the two sides meet again in the Worthington Cup.
In stark contrast, Grimsby Town and Burnley produced an 11-goal thriller to keep their fans on the edge of their seats.
Were you at either game; will you watch Wimbledon again?
I stood outside the ground on Wednesday and can tell you the actual number of people inside the ground was in fact 493. I should know because I am one of the people who counted them!!!
Wimbledon FC will always be my club, unfortunately someone bought our place in the league leaving us to join the Combined Counties League. I feel nothing but hatred for the franchise.
I was at Plough Lane from 1979 and Selhurst from 1991. My dad, who now stands with me at Kingsmeadow, has been going since 1962, so let nobody doubt our loyalty.
We have been abused and taken for granted for far too long. Milton Keynes and the tacit approval of the football authorities just made our decision for us. "We are Wimbledon and we will be back".
Sean Fox
Never will I watch another "live" Wimbledon FC match. The club have betrayed the Dons supporters and started a rot than could destroy football in the lower leagues.
AFC Wimbledon plays in front of 3,000+ loyal fans Dons fans at "home" and the crowd is made up of many of the old WFC core fan base. Mr Koppel and his bosses have destroyed a club which had great heart. It is WFC's loss and the fans' gain.
Neil P, UK
This is for Craig Miller of the UK (below). There is one difference you decided not to mention in your statement about Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton wanting to move grounds...They don't want to, and would not, MOVE OVER 70 MILES AWAY.
They would not do it because they know what the reaction from their fans would be....so don't tell me to grow up. I watched Franchise FC for 28 years and yet they can think they can ride roughshod over me. Well, I think they have finally realised that they can't.
Watch for the attendance next week in the Worthington Cup Koppel, I hope you have given out at least 10,000 freebies, you are going to need them, because no one in their right mind will pay and watch that monstrosity you have bred. Get lost Koppel and do all of British football a favour!
Stuart Stone, England
I have been a Wimbledon fan for over 10 years, only going to the occasional game at Plough Lane, when I could persuade my mum to take my brother and me. I had been a season ticket-holder for the last six years, even making long trips from Lancashire when I was re-located by work.
I am an AFC season ticket holder, Wimbledon FC died when the FA allowed the move to go ahead. AFC is the best thing that could have happened, fair play to Chris and Ivor for they determination in starting AFC.
I would have loved to have followed Wimbledon from the non-league days, now I have chance to live this dream, as do all lower league teams. I was one of the 1,403 who watched the 4-0 win on Wednesday. Anybody that thinks they can get a fan base in Milton Keynes has their head in the clouds.
Ian Widdup,
UK
A couple of people have made the comment that AFC Wimbledon is no closer to returning to Plough Lane, Merton than WFC ever were.
What makes them think that? Are they supporters of AFCW? Have they attended meetings between the club and the council? No, they haven't, which means they haven't got a clue what is happening regarding a return to Merton.
For all they know an announcement could be made tomorrow. Don't make comments on something you know nothing about. AFC Wimbledon Forever!!
Kevin Chatfield,
UK
Wimbledon's days have been numbered since Kinnear left. He knew about the spirit of the giant killers who we all loved to watch humiliate big teams. Shame, as the FA Cup won't be the same without the 'crazy gang'.
Jon, England
Just a thought...what would happen if WFC drew say Man Utd 'at home' in the FA Cup?? Would it mean Utd would be allocated 98% of the tickets?? Could happen...
Paul Edwards, NW England
I'm an Aldershot Town fan. There is no doubt that in all ATFC fans' minds, we are a continuation of the old Aldershot FC. In a sense, the level we are playing at is irrelevant in that respect. The same is true, I'm sure of the fans of AFC Wimbledon. Shots fans are lucky in that there is no old/new team divide, and we are still at our old stadium.
I now live in Enfield, and I see the Enfield FC/Enfield Town FC situation as mirroring the two Wimbledon teams in some ways. While the current Enfield FC are technically the historic football club of Enfield, most of their fans have gone to support Enfield Town, and this is the team with the likelier successful future.
As in Wimbledon's case, neither team has their own ground. Unlike in Wimbledon's case, the chance of the old and new teams playing in the next few seasons, if the old still exists, is fairly high.
Mike, UK
Even if they have the new record for low attendance, they can at least put it on the mantelpiece next the record for highest attendance in the Southern counties league - with all the people saying how they supported them back then, they must have been drawing 30,000 spectators a week. Don't think so.
Dave, UK
The comments saying that the fans should have stuck by the team are deeply misguided. I've been a fan since 1984, and went to all games last season, cheering on the team during the games, and protesting against the chairman's plans before and afterwards.
But when the FA choked the decision (Crozier supports the fans, but hid behind the Commission) and gave the go ahead to MK, it was time for us all to look elsewhere.
The idea that by going yesterday, which would have raised the gate only to around 6,000, Koppel would have called off MK and invested in the local community is rubbish. As fans, we have campaigned long and hard against the killing of our club, and only when the FA sold us down the river for good have we started our own local team.
Chris West,
Wimbledon
I saw York City v Wimbledon in 1980/81 season when they were in their first season in league football. There were only two obvious Dons fans in the ground, and they only turned up because "York is on the main East Coast line." A lot of the so-called "lifelong supporters" are no such thing.
If the club had stayed in the position of bouncing around the lower divisions (like York City) then Plough Lane (with a bit of tarting up) would have been good enough. Sadly, they look like the only club ever to fold (and that is what it really happening under the cloak of relocation) because they had too much success!
Peter Hayes, England
This move has been completely mismanaged by the club. Not only did the new owners take the club down to Division One in their first year of ownership, now it looks like they could take them to Division Two.
Eddie, UK
If Milton Keynes want a Nationwide League football club, they should work their way through the pyramid of lower leagues like everybody else. Being able to franchise an existing club just diminishes the achievement of clubs such as Cheltenham, Rushden and indeed Wimbledon themselves in attaining league status.
I think it is in the interest of all football fans that this exercise in franchising is seen to fail. Good luck to AFC Wimbledon.
Alan Freeman, England
I have supported Wimbledon FC since their Southern League days. I now consider them to represent Milton Keynes and will not watch them again. I now watch AFC Wimbledon, my local community team. The sooner Franchise FC change their name to Milton Keynes the better. As their own shirts state, GO MK.
Mick, England
I would never go to Wimbledon FC again. I supported them for twenty five years and Koppel has taken away their identity for the sake of money. I now support AFC Wimbledon, the real Dons, I hope this never happens to any other club. The gates reflect how the fans feel about this shell of a club.
Mr Ringsell,
Sussex
I will never set foot in Selhurst Park again. AFC Wimbledon is the team created by fans for fans, none of your bigoted chairman-type people are involved. The sooner Franchise FC disappears, the better.
Briony,
England
As a Palace fan, I disagree with the remark about merging clubs. I wouldn't do it even if the club retain the name Crystal Palace, and the same playing colours. What would be the benefit? A few players we could have on a free if we wanted them, the three fans that would cross the great divide, and Wimbledon FC's huge debts?
True Wimbledon fans have set up their own club, and are right to do so. I hope that one day AFC Wimbledon will meet Palace in the FA Cup final!
Cleon, England
I supported what became Franchise FC for over 25 years and took enormous pride in taking my son. In fact, I was even on the open top bus when the FA Cup was paraded around Wimbledon.
I would never return to Selhurst and the franchise, as life at AFCW is such a breath of fresh air. Also my son (5 1/2 years old) wouldn't let me as he too is AFCW through and through. Up the real fans Dons.
Martin Crump, England
What is happening at Wimbledon is a warning to other clubs. The Fans have power. Don't forget them. Good luck AFC Wimbledon.
Martin, Canada (ex pat)
I am Wimbledon born and bred. I have supported the Dons since 46-47 and played two games in the famous blue with white sleeves in 1953. Although I have lived in Germany for over thirty years, there is only one Wimbledon and that's the team that belongs to SW19.
Paul Robinson, Germany
Koppel has destroyed Wimbledon football club, with the help of the 'FA'; is that supposed to stand for Franchising Association? They let Koppel lie to them and believed every word they said, why didn't they talk to some fans before making their awful decision.
AFC Wimbledon is the real club, and it is fantastic!
Joe Paton, England
AFC Wimbledon is the real Wimbledon FC. We have the continuity of fans and the community. The only reason Franchise FC haven't changed their name to something involving Milton Keynes is a pathetic attempt to hang on the trophies and history that are rightfully ours.
Richard Tibbetts, UK
Watch Franchise FC, never!!! I watched Newcastle on TV last night and I will be going to see AFC Wimbledon against Woodford tonight. I've loved Wimbledon for 29 years, all that's happened is we've moved the FC to the front put an A in, and moved down a few leagues - but it's still MY team!
Ian hicks, Merton
Wimbledon FC gave up their right to our support the day they decided to move to Milton Keynes. We fought long and hard to persuade them they were wrong. We found a site in SW19 (Plough Lane funnily enough) and showed them that a 20k stadium would fit on it.
They ignored us and tricked the Football League and FA into allowing the franchising of our club. I supported that club since 1971 and now support the club that have replace them as Wimbledon's football club. I haven't enjoyed my football so much since 1988!
Steve Elson, UK
Never mind Wimbledon, Billericay Town are moving to Basildon in search of a better stadium and more fans! Scandalous.
Daren Mootoo,
England
Good luck to the Wimbledon fans. Kick the money men out.
Andrew,
England
I spoke to a girl last night, a one-time committed supporter of Franchise FC. She'd been to the game, not to watch but to count the heads (official attendance figures being somewhat unreliable).
She said she had wept, not out of remorse, but for what had happened to a once proud and respected football club. She is one of the many instrumental in setting up AFC Wimbledon, a club by the fans and for the fans.
The Wimbledon FC hierarchy still expect the masses to return one day; we know it can't happen. One of our greatest fears is that somehow Wimbledon FC will be resurrected in its old form when the present incumbents are swept away, and that it will jeopardise the future success of what the current fanbase has built up in these few short weeks, since we were kicked in the teeth for the last time.
Pete Jacobson, England
AFC Wimbledon is now the home of the true Wimbledon supporters. A club which is actually putting something back into the community it represents.
Unlike Franchise FC, whose only aim seems to be greed and whose owners seem more concerned with property deals than what they do for football. At AFC, we are all having too much fun to want to return to Selhurst!
Keith Nixon, London
I am having far more fun watching AFC Wimbledon, which is the REAL Wimbledon team, with REAL Wimbledon supporters. I take great pleasure in seeing just how embarrassing the Frankenstein Franchice Club has become. Wait until the Worthington Cup - the attendance will be sub-500.
Nick Reed, UK
The supporters of Wimbledon watched their club destroyed while the authorities stood by and let it happen. Wimbledon FC died on the 28th May 2002 when the FA Panel allowed franchising into the game.
The surprise is not that there were 849 people that this game, but that anyone involved with football recognises Charles Koppel's franchise as a real football club at all.
Charlie B., Cyprus
I was proud to be one of the 3,027 and 3,121 who attended Wimbledon's "home" games against Everton and Sheff Wed in the early 90's when we started to share Selhurst Park.
We were told it was a temporary situation and believed in our owner's (Sam Hamman) commitment to returning us home in a new stadium. It was important to support your local football team despite the weather or opposition, and the fact that the Taylor report meant we had to play seven miles from our traditional home.
As a life-long Wimbledon fan I was also proud to be OUTSIDE Selhurst Park last night counting the unfortunate souls who still believe that WFC Ltd is in anyway a football club in the meaningful sense of the word.
Anyone there could not fail to realise that all is left is an unloved and unlovely franchised corpse that just happens to (hopefully temporarily) have a place in English League Division One.
Wimbledon FC is dead. AFC Wimbledon forever!
Martin Drake,
UK
Apparently the 849 included 227 Rotherham fans, 220 comp tickets and the reserve players and their wives and girlfriends!
Jefed,
UK
I've not been to Selhurst since the day Wimbledon left Plough Lane as it isn't Wimbledon's home, so the chances of me going to Milton Keynes are even slighter.
Charles Koppell and his cronies have destroyed a once-unique club, so it's time for them to fold and let the young pretenders and keepers of the faith AFC Wimbledon take over the mantle of Wimbledon's legacy and history.
It won't get any better Charles. In fact, next week it will get worse. Worthington Cup crowd? What time does the match start? When the supporter turns up. Sad but true!
Baggy,
UK
AFC Wimbledon tonight play a London Senior Cup game and I think it's safe to say that is where you will find all real Wimbledon Fans.
If they think they can make it in MK well let them go and change the name but where are the thousands who will support them?
Paul Raymond,
England
The FA panel who approved the move to Milton Keynes should hang their heads in shame. They are responsible for this embarrassment to English League football. Their decision turned what was once a proud little community club into a nationwide laughing stock. Shame on them.
Neil Presland, UK
After hearing Wimbledon FC's interview on Radio 4 this morning (30th Oct) I have to relay how absolutely disgusted I am with the so-called Wimbledon Fans who have compromised the status of Wimbledon F.C.
YES, it would be preferable to have a home stadium in London, but that is not always possible. The fans should be grateful that the directors are willing to take all the flak and become unpopular in order to save our club from extinction! It is better having a poor club which has moved home, than having none at all! And besides, Milton Keynes, being the fastest growing city in England, I'm sure is thankful that at last it has a Football Club in the area, worth watching!
Shaun (Wimbledon Fan),
England
I was there last night. I travelled from MK to support my new team. The sooner we move to MK (and change our name) the better. I admire what Charles Koppel is trying to do, the old Dons would have folded without him.
Rocky, UK
I saw every game Wimbledon FC played at Selhurst bar one - before May 28th. I feel entitled to comment. When the FA gave Koppel his dream move to Milton Keynes that signalled the end of the club being the one I have followed since 1979.
My unbroken home match run continues - following the true Wimbledon - AFC Wimbledon. If Chris Perry, Andy Thorn, Terry Burton, Neal Ardley, Dickie Guy, etc, etc (there's a whole host more) believe Koppel's lot to no longer to be Wimbledon FC is it any shock that the true Dons faithful agree? I look forward to tonight's London Senior Cup match against Woodford Town knowing full well it'll be better attended and much more fun.
Jonesy, Wimbledon, England
I went to watch my team Leicester play Wimbledon this season and for travelling teams it's excellent! Wimbledon's lack of fans at matches can only spur them on to better things though.
Adam Eames, England
AFC Wimbledon is the only club that represents the area and real Wimbledon fans.
Berge Azadian,
UK
I went to school in Wimbledon and spent my early youth walking down Queens Rd to Plough Lane to watch my favourite LOCAL team, I still can't believe what they have done - I am an AFC Wimbledon fan now and the only time I will EVER go back to Selhurst is to watch them get relegated down to the Second Division - you'll be able to hear my laughter in White City!
Arron Margeison,
England
The club should realise that the falls in attendance of around 70% on last season helps show the strength in feeling that franchising has no place in the English game. I hope the club dies before it even reaches MK.
Adam R, Morden
I have supported Wimbledon for 20 years, from a Fourth Division match against Rochdale to Wembley in 1988 and beyond. I just cannot bear to claim to support Franchise FC. It is the worst example of commercialism inflicted on the one club who proved what was possible on a tiny budget and a small number of fans.
Former fans like myself just cannot bear to support a once proud side and that is why many of us have decided to support AFC Wimbledon. I will never go to Selhurst Park again as long as CK Club Killer is around and the only time I will go to Milton Keynes will be in a few seasons for a Vauxhall Conference match.
Phil, UK
It is ludicrous to suggest that those fans who have chosen to boycott the "Franchise" FC are betraying the Wimbledon of old. The situation is a catch 22 - the only way the fans are able to make themselves heard (after last season's protesting at Selhurst) is by boycotting the matches.
However, this only plays into Koppel's hands - since he intends to justify the move by the low attendances. It is a difficult decision, one which I personally thought long and hard about. I am now a regular at AFC Wimbledon games and although AFCW are no closer to moving back to Merton than the Franchise they are playing for the right reasons: the fans, the community and the history of a proud SOUTH WEST LONDON club.
Ian,
UK
As someone who followed Wimbledon FC for twenty years, home and away I will never set foot at one of their matches ever again. I now watch AFC Wimbledon in the combined counties league - this is where the real Wimbledon fans are.
The hi-jacking of a once proud and vibrant club by Koppel and his Norwegian paymasters is scandalous and a blot on football and the FA's record. The press and media need only to come and watch an AFC Wimbledon match at Kingsmeadow to see the vibrant continuation of the club now widely labelled Franchise FC.
Callum Watson, UK
It just goes to show how far Wimbledon have sunk since the ridiculous decision to allow them to move. Who does Koppel think he is kidding when he says they are losing less money now?? How can that be with so little gate money and so few fans? And as for his claim that MK is a "hotbed of football fans" - where were they last night?
Maybe now the FA will see through the charade, but, depressingly, I expect Soho Square to remain silent over this embarrassment to English football.
Rohan, England
The true soul of Wimbledon is AFC Wimbledon, not the football circus that plays at Selhurst. Only true fans will understand this.
Andy Minas,
England
Arsenal are moving out of Highbury, Liverpool out of Anfield and Everton are looking to leave Goodison - are you Wimbledon fans seriously telling me that Plough Lane has more history than any of those grounds? Wimbledon had to move to survive, Plough Lane isn't big enough and to give the club every chance to survive, they are going to Milton Keynes.
Grow up and support it, or watch the club you profess to have 'loved' disappear.
Craig Miller, UK
I attended almost every game the Dons played at Selhurst Park after their move from Plough Lane as I believed that the club WAS the fans and that eventually we would move back to Wimbledon.
Once the FA allowed the moved to MK I realised that the corpse at Selhurst was no longer my club. AFC Wimbledon is a result of many more people realising that the soul of a club is the community within which it resides - and the clue is in the name!!
Matthew Breach, UK
I will certainly never go to Selhurst to watch Wimbledon again, and I know that a large number of Watford fans, myself included, have arranged to go to the real Wimbledon (AFC) on Boxing Day in lieu of going to Wimblestein at Selhurst Park.
Charles Koppel knows nothing whatever about Wimbledon Football Club, so for him to talk about who the "real" Wimbledon fans are is as laughable as pretending there's no fans' boycott.
So what's happened to your attendances, Charlie? Apart from their artificial boosting by including journalists, players, coaches, season-ticket holders who sent their tickets back and got refunds before the season started, etc.
Nick Grundy, UK
I'm not a Wimbledon fan but I think it's disgraceful how the fans have gone about this whole situation, think of the players who try their hardest - it's not their fault if the team decide to move.
The fans have played right into the directors' hands and by not turning up to matches, and have given the board even more of an incentive to move.
If the fans had stayed and given Selhurst Park high attendances week in, week out, then they would have maybe considered not moving because of the gauranteed income. A great club with a great history, the fans' behaviour towards the club is just terrible!
Dave, England
This is surely a non-news item. The crowd was indeed low but under the circumstances this is only to be expected. A mix of the proverbial "wet Tuesday in October," away fans travelling a large distance and a club which has decided to pull out. The real news story would be if the crowds had been high!
David, Milton Keynes, England
I think it is a testament to the true fans of that once-great club that they continue to watch the club they love, despite being constantly ridiculed.
AFCW fans, after deriding Koppell for turning his back on Merton, are no closer to finding a site for a ground for a CCL team than Koppel was to finding one for a Premiership/Div One team.
Steve, England
What a joke Mr Koppel is, and the only bigger joke are the authorities who allow him to franchise football. I am a loyal Wimbledon fan and like all Wimbledon fans, I remain so.
We have a club, and they are AFC Wimbledon, who attract 3000 fans on average despite playing in the Combined Counties League. Koppel's plastic shell, who were watched by 849 people last night, are Franchise FC, and are not a continuation of Wimbledon and for him to claim so is galling.
If he really believes this to be the case then he should put it to the test in the courts and sue AFC Wimbledon for stating in our match programme that we won the FA Cup in 1988. Except he knows he would not win. Why don't you stop your mendacity Charles and admit you are setting up a franchise club in Milton Keynes.
Ed Mackie, UK
I do watch Wimbledon, the real Wimbledon: AFC Wimbledon. The Franchise can fold and disappear, goodbye.
Geoff, UK
We are doomed and nothing can save us. Wimbledon RIP 2002.
Pete, Wimbledon fan, UK
Wimbledon FC died the day that the decision was made to approve the move to Milton Keynes. The fans did not want it - there was a viable alternative to go back to Plough Lane, the club's spiritual home - but the owners did not want to know.
They have turned their back on the club's heritage and so we have turned our back on them. We have gone back to the grass roots and created our own club which will reflect the true values of community-based football. That is where our future lies and we will never go back.
Trevor W, Wimbledon
I come from Milton Keynes and I will not be going to Selhurst Park to watch Wimbledon play. I will also not be going to watch them play in Milton Keynes, no matter who they are playing. The whole move is unjust to football fans and is destroying the very thing that attracts people to watch football.
Paul Collier, England
Aye, and 834 of them wanted their money back...
Guiz,
Newcastle
Wimbledon/Franchise will surely fold soon - how on earth will they keep going with barely 400 paying home fans? (The club refunded many season tickets when the MK move was approved, but sent the tickets out anyway, and count these in each attendance). Koppel & Co have killed this once-proud club. I will never go back to them.
Nick Palmowski, England
What has happened to Wimbledon is very, very sad. I can not believe that there is not a site somewhere in Wimbledon for them to build a small stadium to get started again?
The Chairman is in a dream world, it is like moving Liverpool into North Wales, it just wouldn't happen. What will they be called, Milton Keynes AFC??? It is stupid and the FA should step in and do something about it. Long live Wimbledon FC, but not in Milton Keynes.
Graham (Newcastle Fan),
UK
I have been to Selhurst Park four times in the last two seasons as an away supporter and the difference between the atmospheres at a Palace game and a Wimbledon one is embarrassing. With everything else that is happening at the club, it's no wonder that so many Wimbledon fans decided to set up their own club instead.
Karl Smith, UK
I assume the good people of Milton Keynes - who are claiming that their town is not too far for Wimbledon fans to travel to - didn't bother turning up. If it's not far, they should be pouring into London to see 'their' team play. If it really is a football town, they would be doing just that.
Mark, UK
I wouldn't watch Wimbledon if they played at the Nou Camp.
Stewart Stirk,
Leeds
I confess, I was one of the ghouls who was there at Selhurst Park, not because I am a Wimbledon or Rotherham supporter but because I wanted to witness a unique football experience. In all honesty it was every bit as depressing as you can imagine it would be.
The atmosphere was basically identical to what you would experience at a reserve match, the players' shouts were louder than the crowd and there was an eerie echo which resonated around the stadium from start to finish.
The only moment of comedy was when Wimbledon fans behind the goal started rattling the empty seats to make some noise when the Dons went forward!
There were, by my calculations, around 90 fans in the Wimbledon home end. It doesn't take a genius to work out that this kind of crowd cannot sustain a league club at any level.
Regardless of what Koppel says, if the Dons can only muster 200 fans to make the trip to an away game in Reading, how many are going to bother making a regular once a fortnight trip to Milton Keynes?
Rob Crossan, UK
As a Crystal Palace supporter, the only future I can see for both our clubs is to merge, and to move to a new ground which can actually be owned by both of us rather than both of us being the tenants of Selhurst.
Neil Kay, Europe
If you were at the game, keep your ticket stub - it'll be a collector's item!!
Nick, England