Wimbledon chief opens up on failed Bristol City transfer - and how player responded

AFC Wimbledon chairman Mick Buckley says that Jack Currie has responded well amidst a failed January move to Bristol City.

Left-back Currie, was subject of a bid from the Robins on the last few days of the transfer window. He was identified as a target for the Championship club but they were unsuccessful in their bid and he remained at Plough Lane.

Wimbledon did not want to lose Currie in the window, especially after losing star player Ayoub Assal to Qatari club Al-Markhiya. The Dons have already recouped fees for Jack Rudoni and Luke McCormick, and so they wanted to keep their best players, as they try to push for an immediate return to League One.

Four bids were submitted in total, with the first on January 28, and then several followed on deadline day. Wimbledon wanted to have him loaned back for the remainder of the campaign, whilst City wanted him to be their player fully and that is a driving factor as to why the deal was not concluded.

Since the transfer window has shut, Wimbledon have had two games since, and Currie has seen his playing time reduced. He came on as a substitute for 20 minutes against Leyton Orient and was unused against Carlisle United last weekend.

“Jack has conducted himself in an exemplary fashion throughout,” said Buckley on the Wimbledon official club website when asked how Currie had responded to a failed move to Ashton Gate.

“He’s naturally ambitious and playing in the Championship would obviously be attractive for him but, as someone studying for a business degree, he is smart enough to know that a deal needs to work for all parties.

“He didn’t agitate for a move and made it clear that if things didn’t work we had his 100% commitment. He is a fantastic role model as he showed recently when a group of students were given a tour of the stadium recently. He will continue to develop here, and further opportunities will follow.”

Currie has a deal with Wimbledon that runs until the summer of 2024. He has so far played in 33 matches this season, in what is his first full season in professional football.

The collapse of Currie’s move to Wimbledon, meant that Jay Dasilva could not move to Coventry City. Dasilva was a top target for the Sky Blues, but because Currie did not move to the West Country, he was kept at the club to provide cover for Cam Pring. The 24-year-old has been an unused substitute in the last two matches and is out-of-contract in the summer.