NEWS CHANNEL
Karl Robinson has admitted that bringing winger Anthony McNamee to Dons was a mistake.
The 28-year-old former Norwich City man was an 11th hour signing for Dons on deadline day in August, but he was made a free agent at the end of the very next transfer window last month.
During that time he failed to make a start for the club – only appearing eight times from the bench – and he was sent out on loan to fellow League One club Wycombe Wanderers in November.
At the time, Robinson said he wanted McNamee ‘to go and play a few games, rip the league up and come back firing on full cylinders’ to help Dons get promoted.
But the relationship between club and player could not be repaired when he returned to stadiummk, despite the fact he scored twice while at Wycombe.
McNamee has now moved to Dons’ Buckinghamshire rivals full-time.
Robinson said:“He just didn’t fit and wasn’t part of the jigsaw. It didn’t work for him or work for us.
“Two managers who I respect immensely said if you make a signing and he doesn’t fit into your squad, don’t try and persevere with him and lie to the fans, and make it look like a good signing.
“They said don’t worry as there will be many of them you’ll get wrong.
“Just make sure you get rid of them in the next window, and we did that, so I’ve not cheated anybody.
“You accept that you’ve made a mistake and I have made a mistake.
“I take that on the chin, I’ve got to accept it and put my hands up.”
Dons could come face to face with McNamee again when the two sides meet in Wycombe on March 24.
But Robinson has already added another winger to the squad with the deadline day capture of Paul Slane, on-loan from Scottish giants Celtic.
The 20-year-old is lightning quick and will provide the pace that Robinson has wanted to inject into his side when he arrives in Milton Keynes next week.
“He is pure pace and he can play on the left or right,” he said.
“We had him watched and we’re looking forward to getting him here and working with him.”
