Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association has become the official voice of Dons fans, particularly through their campaign to bring the club back to Merton.

Here is WISA spokesman LAURENCE LOWNE'S latest update...

The statement issued by Mr Koppel this week amounts to a challenge not only to the Football League, but also to Merton Council, the supporters of Wimbledon FC plus the many others who have put time and effort into exploring the potential of Plough Lane as a site for a new stadium.

In other words a kick in the face for fair mindedness.

Therefore it's back to the barricades or in other words the demonstrations.

This time, Mr Koppel they are going to be louder, longer and more intense.

The anger welling up from supporters is immense and that will be demonstrated both at the Grimsby game and later in the year the Fans United day in December, but more about that in a second.

Tomorrow we play Grimsby, following two more games of playing "throwaway the lead". It's an unusual game where one side storms into a convincing lead and then lays down and let's the other side score goals for fun. Wimbledon are masters of this game as shown against Rotherham, Bradford and Portsmouth. Rumour has it the team are going for a 6-0 half time lead this Saturday and Grimsby have been promised seven goals in the second half.

Seriously though, Terry and the coaching staff must be pulling their collective hair out trying to find a solution to this puzzlement. Hopefully things can take a more positive step this Saturday even a boring 1-0 win would be quite welcome.

There are a whole host of things happening just now, and too much to mention here. Supporters Trust, Official Wimbledon Fans Forum, Civic Forum and the Fans United day. So why not pay a visit to the Thomas Farley on a Selhurst matchday or our website www.wisa.org.uk for all the latest news.

So now we turn to the Fans United day on December 16.

On 4 May 1991, the supporters of Wimbledon FC were torn away from their spiritual home of Plough Lane. After 10 years of fighting off every money-making scheme devised by the club owners and every press rumour, right now the supporters are closer to a move home than ever before. A return to Plough Lane has emerged as a realistic option. The Football League, the supporters, Wimbledon FC and Merton Council have met on the pitch at Plough Lane where Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association (WISA) produced a working architects plan, put together by an independent stadium designer, for a 20,000-seat stadium.

However, the spectre of Milton Keynes looms large. Club chairman Charles Koppel refuses to renounce the scheme and says it remains the most realistic option.

He is pursuing Milton Keynes through an FA arbitration panel, is showing complete personal defiance for football supporters and for football tradition and logic.

The football authorities have shown commendable and enduring opposition to such moves. But while unscrupulous club owners with no roots in the traditions of football continue to run football clubs, the dangers for fans are clear to see.

As a result, WISA is holding a Fans United Day on Sunday, December 16, for the televised game against Nottingham Forest (kick off 2.15pm). Back in August, supporters of a dozen other clubs joined more than 500 Wimbledon supporters on an eight-mile march from Plough Lane to Selhurst Park. A Fans United Day was one of the most important events of the Brighton and Hove Albion supporters' superbly-fought campaign to return the Seagulls to Brighton.

WISA asks supporters of clubs from all over the country to stand together with us for the next chapter in the football supporters' fight against corporate greed.

Supporters are asked to congregate at the Thomas Farley pub in Thornton Heath in time for a 1.30pm march on the ground.

If you plan to attend, or if you can help in any way, please contact the WISA Fans United Team on07798 557591.

November 6, 2001 15:00