A lot of attention will focus on our first, unwanted, encounter with franchised football on October 16th.

From a BIAS perspective we well remember the help and encouragement we received from the Wimbledon ISA in mounting our campaign against Woking, and the feeling of solidarity at our pre-season friendly in 2001 when No to Woking and MK No Way banners were flying side by side on the Ealing Road.

For just these reasons it is hard to imagine that any Bees fans would be entirely happy to endorse the concept of franchising by paying to watch the ‘MK Dons’, and we hope that as many as possible will feel moved to boycott the game, in the same way that we would have wished others to boycott a ‘Surrey Bees’ in Woking.

We do of course understand that for fans to boycott one of their team’s games is a painful undertaking, one that goes against all our instincts as supporters, and as such no boycott will ever be total. We would encourage any Bees fans going to the game to let Pete Winkelman and his franchised club know that English football has no place for them and what they represent. BIAS will be looking to get hold of suitable banners etc. for those travelling - watch this space!

We’re sure all Bees fans can sympathise with the plight of the Wimbledon fans who saw their club uprooted and taken from them (after all, we only narrowly escaped a similar fate), but equally we are aware that opinions will vary regarding our game in Milton Keynes.

As clear a message as boycotting this game would send, another, positive, one could be made by going to watch AFC Wimbledon’s home game with Molesey at Kingsmeadow that day; and wearing Brentford colours would make clear your reasons for doing so