Former Wimbledon defender John Scales is getting behind a campaign for AFC Wimbledon to return to Plough Lane.

Scales, who won the FA Cup with Wimbledon when they shocked Liverpool in the 1988 final, is making his appeal at a crucial time for the proposal for an 11,000?capacity ground.

The council is expected to rule on the plan by the end of March and Wimbledon hope to be playing there by the start of the 2017-18 season.

"The club have done brilliantly to get back in the Football League and the second piece of the jigsaw would be returning to Merton," said Scales, who also played for Tottenham and Liverpool.

"Wimbledon have been on a great journey and this is an opportunity for Londoners to support a community that is incredibly passionate about their club."