Cooper dismisses Dons' link

The on-loan Walsall midfielder spent a year at Wimbledon before being offloaded to Wolves in the fire sale that preceded the Dons' controversial name change and switch to MIlton Keynes.

And the 32-year-old, who this week extended his Bescot loan to take in the rest of the season, remains bitter about the turn of events.

The new Dons have upset many in the game, first by being allowed to move the 'franchise' out of its traditional community to the new town, and then by claiming Wimbledon's proud history as their own.

And, as a man who has seen his career statistics re-written in many record books, Cooper wants no part of MK Dons history.

"If I'm honest it upsets me when I read away programmes and see 'former clubs, MK Dons' alongside my name," said Cooper.

"I don't count them as a former club. I played for Wimbledon.

"When I think about what happened there it upsets me. It was wrong.

"I've got nothing against MK Dons or the town of Milton Keynes and they have every right to want a football team in the town.

"But it should have been done the right way and they should have earned the right to be in the Football League.

"What happened to the people at Wimbledon was a disgrace and it should never have been allowed to happen.

"I was only there for 12 months, but in that time I felt like I was at a football club that was potentially going places.

"We had a good manager in Terry Burton and he was building a good side, and the people in charge should never have been allowed to mess around with people's careers and people's lives in the way that they did. I had got my family down there and we were settling in the area and lots of other people were in the same boat, then we were let down."

A keen follower of the game, the likable Cooper is a proud former Wimbledon player and now takes a keen interest in the fortunes of AFC Wimbledon, the new club launched in non-league to fill the void left by the Dons' controversial exit.

He said: "Of the two clubs, AFC Wimbledon are much closer to the real Wimbledon. Most of the supporters of Wimbledon go to watch them and they are getting some big crowds.

"And if they win their appeal against a points deduction this season they could be in Conference South next season and only two steps away from the Football League.

"It would be great to see them back."

Cooper will have his chance to make his point on the field tomorrow after his loan was extended on Thursday following four impressive performances in Walsall colours since his temporary switch from Cardiff.

And the ex-Stockport man is keen to repay the Saddlers for helping him put an end to his year-long injury torment with regular football.

"I'm loving it at Walsall, the lads are great and I'm enjoying going into training every day," he said.

"I've played competitive football on four successive Saturday's now, which is something I haven't done for over a year, and because of that I'm getting fitter.

"Last week at Wycombe I felt I was able to do a lot more breaking into the box while still being able to get back and do my bit at the other end, and that's what regular games do for you."