Even the most vociferous critics of the Olsen regime at Wimbledon will have been surprised that he will be returning there having managed the Dons for less than a year, with two games still to play this season.

But Wimbledon's two month daliance with the relegation zone became something altogether more serious on Sunday, after a 3-0 defeat to Bradford at Valley Parade moved Wimbledon into the Premiership's relegation zone for the first time in three seasons.

Wimbledon were justly aggreieved at not getting anything out of the match last Sunday, and were the victim of some truly horrendous refereeing decisions. The defeat leaves them in the bottom three of the table, needing favours from other clubs to survive.

At the press conference last Monday to announce Olsen's departure, Wimbledon chairman Bjorne Rune Gjelsten announced that "relegation is not an option".

But, unfortunately, for the Wimbledon fans relegation is very much an option.

If Bradford were to win their last two games against Leicester (away) and Liverpool (home), then whatever Wimbledon do against Aston Villa (home) and Southampton (away), the club's 14-year adventure in the Premiership would come to an end.

The man charged with leading the Dons into the final two matches of the season is Terry Burton, only recently elevated to the role of assistant manager from his previous position as youth academy director. Burton spoke of his confidence that the club could survive as a Premiership outfit, paraphrasing Mark Twain: "Reports of this club's death have been greatly exaggerated."

The Crazy Gang must take their first step towards realising this prophecy by reversing their eight-match unbeaten run against Aston Villa at Selhurst Park on Saturday. With Burton in charge, a return to a 4-4-2 formation and the resurrection of the Crazy Gang spirit can be confidently predicted. With all of the Aston Villa players eyeing their upcoming trip to Wembley for the FA Cup final, a win is certainly not beyond the realms of possibility.

New Wimbledon manager

Bookmakers odds

5-4 Aage Hareide; 9-4 Lawrie Sanchez; 6-1 John Fashnau; 7-1 Mick Harford and Joe Kinnear; 9-1 Micky Adams and Robbie Earl; 10-1 Dave Bassett, Terry Burton and Mick Harford; 12-1 Steve Cotterill and Peter Taylor; 14-1 Danny

Wilson, 16-1 Roy Evans; 25-1 Vinnie Jones.