AFC Wimbledon boss Terry Brown has issued a bizarre dig at Swindon Town’s decision to appoint Paolo Di Canio as the club’s new manager, claiming the Italian will struggle to sign the required players.

The 58-year-old, like Di Canio, will be managing in the Football League for the first time next season after guiding the Wombles to promotion to League Two via a play-off final victory over Luton earlier this month.

Di Canio will be arguably the most high-profile manager at that level, but Brown feels that will count for nothing when it comes to player recruitment.

“I think I know more about the second division than Paolo Di Canio does,” he said.

“I am sure all Swindon fans are incredibly excited about having an Italian legend as their manager but some of them must be asking themselves what he knows about this level - where is he going to get his players from?

“If he thinks he is going to get players of his calibre and skill then he is mistaken - he won’t.”

Brown’s entire playing career was spent in the non-leagues while his management experience includes lengthy spells at the helm of Hayes and Aldershot Town before taking charge of AFC Wimbledon four years ago.

While he will be stepping into the unknown next season, he remains confident that he has extensive knowledge of League Two, which will stand him and AFC Wimbledon in good stead next season.

“It is a league I know a lot about and I know almost all the managers and have watched a lot of games this year,” he added.

“I know the calibre of players we need and I would say we do need to be a bit stronger physically.”