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27 february 2002
So it looks like it's over.

As most of you will have heard by now, there are four players on free transfers at the end of the season and unfortunately I am one of them.

The reason seems to be financial, the club has a massive squad at the moment and it must be trimmed down. I haven't been given a free transfer since leaving Preston for Cambridge in 1991.

I am gutted, I would love to stay at the club having settled really well down here. After ten years without a serious injury I have had some real bad luck here with a groin injury, a broken wrist and a broken ankle which was misdiagnosed and ended up being 6 months when it should have only been 3. I can't be bitter with the club as they have stood by me since my big money move in 1998.

I've had some really great moments , my debut in the Premiership, my goals at Newcastle and my first goal in the FA cup against Wycombe last season when I was playing some of the best football of my career. I have to respect Terry Burton's position and he is finding it hard to let some of his experienced players go.

I have built up a great rapport with the fans in my time here and have loved every minute in front of them, hopefully there might be a little more to come. It would be great to sign off in style. Wherever I have played I have given my best with an attitude of passion, honesty and graft and hopefully this will put me in good stead for whatever comes next. I'd love to keep my 'Wild Thing' tag but it now looks as though it won't be at Wimbledon. There's still time to turn out for the Dons in the next few weeks, and I'll be giving my all for the club as usual.

I will keep the updates coming before I leave but would like to thank everyone for their patience and support during my time here. I'm just sorry you haven't had the opportunity to see more of me. Nobody is more disappointed than me.


Gareth.


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