Alan Bennett admitted he is saddened by his departure from AFC Wimbledon, but the lure of a return to hometown club Cork City was too much to resist.

The 33-year-old made 71 appearances for the Dons since joining from Cheltenham Town in 2013.

He was key to the side’s survival in League Two in 2013 when it went to the final game of the season.

Bennett received an emotional half-time send off from the CRRS crowd during Dons’ 2-0 win over Newport County.

The former Brentford man began his career with Cork City in 2000 and made 161 appearances for the club, before crossing the Irish Sea for Reading.

Now he expects to end his playing days with the League of Ireland Premier Division side.

He said: “Playing for my hometown club again will be great. I have always wanted to finish my career back at Cork.”

He added: “I’m excited and I am looking forward to it. When the opportunity came around, it was a very easy decision.

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“It was something I have always wanted to do and always said I would do, and now that it is happening, I am looking forward to it.”

Bennett became a firm favourite with fans – not only because of his on-pitch displays, but for his work in the community, such as organising a team trip to St George’s Hospital in Tooting.

He said: “It’s sad for me to leave, but I have had a great time here.

“Helping the club stay up was great and stands out as a big moment for me.

“I’m looking forward to a new challenge, and joining a club that is doing well and fighting for honours.”

Boss Neal Ardley had no idea of the troubles at centre back he would face when agreeing to cancel Bennett’s contract.

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He said: “Alan is a great leader of men and a great man himself.

“The window in which he joined the club was probably the biggest of my career.

“It was those players who kept us up and when the opportunity came to let him go to his hometown club I couldn’t do enough for him.

“He is a great professional and has been a great club captain, I wish him all the best.”

Adebayo Akinfenwa played with Bennett during his time at Wimbledon and hailed a hard-working team player.

He said: “It was great to play alongside him, even if it was only for a short time.

“He is a true professional and I wish him nothing, but love and success at Cork.”

For more Dons stories, including an interview with Akinfenwa and a preview of this weekend’s trip to Shrewsbury Town, go to surreycomet.co.uk/ sport.