Replacement for Poole close after defender leaves

Russell Martin is confident a replacement for Regan Poole will be signed, as well as others, ahead of Monday night's transfer deadline.

The 22-year-old former Manchester United defender was sold to promotion-chasing Lincoln City ahead of kick-off at Plough Lane as Dons beat AFC Wimbledon 2-0 to move nine points clear of the relegation zone.

Poole had told Martin of his desire to play more regular football as right-back, but with it not fitting in with Dons' defensive formation, Martin allowed the Welshman to leave the club.

With four defenders leaving the club during January - Baily Cargill, George Williams, Richard Keogh and now Poole - and only two currently in the replace them - Harry Darling and Ethan Laird - it leaves Dons light on numbers at the back.

But Martin says they have prepared to bring players in to bolster their back line, and have been linked to Walsall's Zac Jules.

"We are ready for it, there will be people coming in to make sure we've got good cover," he said. "We're working tirelessly, I'm knackered! The window has been a good one so far for us.

"We want to add at both ends of the pitch and we need guys who can come in and compete and strengthen us on and off the pitch."

On the departed Poole, Martin praised the defender's attitude throughout the week-long transfer process.

He said: "I understand why people can't work out why we sold Regan – it's something we';ve known for a week or so, it got stronger and it because financially a good deal and Lincoln wanted him. They're fighting for promotion and Regan expressed a desire to go there.

"He wants to be a right back. He's adapted well to playing at right wing-back, and at right centre back but he sees his future at right-back and Lincoln want him to play in that position. I was honest with Regan about where I see him fitting in, with Ethan and Warren. Maybe he wasn't going to start as many games as he'd like, and I didn't want to deny him.

"He's a really popular member of the group, but when someone approaches training, games and the culture the way he does, I can only have positive things to say about him as a person and a player.

"When someone shows the right attitude even after having that chat with us, he was brilliant for us. Sometimes in football, it's not always those guys who get what they want, and it shouldn't be like that."