AFC Wimbledon first team coach Simon Bassey has revealed how Neal Ardley is attracting big names to the Cherry Red Records stadium, and it is not just his enthusiasm for the Dons or football – he also smells nice.

His latest recruit Matt Tubbs turned down a fresh loan spell at League One Crawley Town to become a Don for the season.

The striker, who has 109 goals in 201 appearances including an explosive spell of 58 goals in 74 games in an 18-month spell at Crawley Town, cited Ardley as a major factor in putting pen to paper.

Fellow new boys Sean Rigg and Dannie Bulman said the same thing as Dons rebuilding for next season’s campaign continues.

Bassey said: “When I speak to people in the game, it is clear that Neal has a good reputation in the game both as an honest man and a football coach.

“Players know their job within the set up of a team and that is vitally important. When I played it was always best to be told what your role was within the team.

“You want to come to training knowing that you are going to learn rather than having a doss.

“That can only be good for a player’s improvement and the club in general. Neal has instilled that here and that’s why players want to come here – although I am sure his nice aftershave helps too.”

He added: “Neal is relatively young, he’s 41, and I think a lot of players look up to him as someone who has played the game at the highest level, the level where they want to be themselves.”