The Resurrection · https://theresurrection.news/history/john-hartson-the-ps7-5m-gamble-that-didnt-quite-pay-off-171535
John Hartson: The £7.5m gamble that didn't quite pay off
27.10.26, 09:00 Updated 30.10.26, 21:09
The Premier League is in full swing, and Wimbledon were in the midst of everything as usual, and after a good run through December, were in a strong league position under the stewardship of Joe Kinnear. Chairman Sam Hammam, not always keen to loosen the purse strings, wanted to keep the momentum going.
He shocked not just the Dons fans but the rest of the football community by signing John Hartson on a six-year deal from West Ham United on January 15 1999, for a club-record £7.5m.
He was immediately greeted with the burning of his tracksuit at the club’s training ground – let's face it, it could’ve been far worse.
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Gary Jordan
Editoris the founder of The Resurrection and author of books about the club, including When Dave Went Up: The Inside Story of how Wimbledon’s 1988 FA Cup win. He has been a fan since the mid-1980s and lost his shoes on his first visit to the old Plough Lane ground. He is a former editor of the club's matchday programme and has volunteered for the club.