Neil Shipperley has scotched rumours of a romantic move to AFC Wimbledon - for now.

The 33-year-old target man has been linked with a switch to Kingsmeadow as Dons boss Terry Brown looks to bolster his squad ahead of the big kick off on August 18.

Brown has made no secret of his desire to bring in a old-fashioned target man to lead the Dons' line next season.

The former Chelsea and Crystal Palace striker retired from professional football after leaving relegated Brentford at the end of last season.

Fans on Dons messages boards suggested Brown, who has already signed Wimbledon legend Marcus Gayle, should entice Shipperley out of retirement.

But, speaking to the Comet from Dubai this week, the former Wimbledon striker revealed he is on the verge of sealing a coaching role at an unnamed Middle Eastern club.

Shipperley said: "I have retired and I'm not really thinking about playing football at the moment - so I definitely won't be joining AFC Wimbledon right now.

"I have got other things in the pipeline and I'm waiting for news on that."

But Shipperley, who had two successful seasons under Terry Burton between 2001 and 2003, stopped short of ruling out a return to the Dons in the future.

"It really depends on how much I miss playing but, as I say, other things are interesting me right now," he said.

"If things work out for me here then I will be coaching in the Middle East, so I would be a million miles away from Wimbledon.

"If things don't work out for me then a few months down the line it could interest me - but not at the moment."

Shipperley left Wimbledon in the summer of 2003, just days after the FA's rubber-stamping of the move to Milton Keynes led to the formation of AFC Wimbledon.

"When you play for a club, you always have an affiliation for them and it's the same with me and AFC Wimbledon," said Shipperley.

"I always try to keep up with how the club are getting on and I wish them all the best for the future."

Brown hopes to have a new striker in place before the start of pre-season training on Saturday.

Of the existing frontmen, Richard Jolly and Richard Butler are expected to be in contention for a first-team spot.

But the expected introduction of a target man would leave the pair battling it out for one spot.