LONDON (AFP) - AFC Wimbledon, formed by fans heartbroken at Wimbledon FC's controversial relaunch in Milton Keynes, have hit a crossroads on their surge towards England's professional leagues.

Six tiers below Wimbledon FC's Premiership heights, AFC sees itself as the rightful successor to the old club, rather than Milton Keynes Dons, and dreams of restoring the Wimbledon name to the big time.

But now the south-west London club, which is easily the best-supported team in the Isthmian Premier with an average attendance of 2,512, faces some big decisions.

AFC Wimbledon, created in 2002, face painful compromises seemingly unavoidable if they are to reach the fourth tier and professional football.

Firstly, whether to continue as a fan-owned club, with resources and potential therefore limited.

Secondly, whether to seek a cathartic but potentially costly return to Wimbledon, or settle and invest in their current ground in nearby Norbiton.

"It's about time we decided on a clear view of what we want to do and where we want to be," chief executive Erik Samuelson told AFP.

"We've never reconciled the fans' ambitions -- to be in the Premiership, the Football League, the Conference -- with our ability to generate the money to do it.

"Without some additional funding, we are going to run into the buffers some time; this is the problem faced by all fan-owned clubs."

Samuelson, who earns one pound a year, is one of around 200 volunteers. All profits are ploughed into the team.

"My ambition is to get us into the league with a ground capable of sustaining us in the league," the 60-year-old said.

"My successor can worry about us getting into the Premier League."

Wimbledon FC's story was one of the most impressive David and Goliath tales in post-war English football history.

From non-professional football, the small club rocketed through the leagues and spent 14 years in the top flight, finishing sixth in 1986/87 and 1993/94, and even won the 1988 FA Cup -- extraordinary then; unthinkable nowadays.

Built on long-ball, aggressive tactics, Wimbledon were dubbed "The Crazy Gang" after the notorious antics of players such as Vinnie Jones, Dennis Wise and John Fashanu.

But relegated in 2000, Wimbledon racked up debts and entered administration. The businessmen chiefs got permission in 2002 to uproot to Milton Keynes: a 60-mile (100-kilometre) move unprecedented in English football and met with widespread disgust.

On August 2 this year, MK Dons gave Wimbledon's trophies to the London Borough of Merton. Some saw it as cutting leftover ties to Wimbledon, others as making peace with the football community.

Nonetheless, the pain remains acute.

"Milton Keynes are an abomination," Samuelson said.

"There are some of our fans who are desperate to play them. Beating them doesn't prove we are better than them.

"We are better than them -- ethically, morally, in a community sense, every sense.

"May they rot in hell."

AFC Wimbledon was swiftly formed, entered the eighth tier, and won two promotions in two seasons, setting a British senior football record of 78 consecutive unbeaten matches on the way.

The Dons bought troubled Kingstonian's 4,500-capacity, 1989-built Kingsmeadow ground in 2005, securing a home for both clubs under the name The Fans' Stadium.

They have twice lost in the play-offs for promotion to the sixth-tier Conference South.

Samuelson sent AFC Wimbledon fans a document seeking their views on eight fundamental issues needing resolution, including how much they wanted to return to Wimbledon.

"I think they'll say we want to, I don't think they'll say we must," said Samuelson.

A renewed trawl of possible sites would probably still find Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium the only practical place, which would be costly to convert to football use too.

That would also halt the investment in Kingsmeadow necessary to enter the Football League, plus the team.

A move to Wimbledon might take a decade -- "then what do we want to do for 10 years?" asked Samuelson.

Existing planning permissions would allow Wimbledon the 5,000 capacity required to enter the Football League, but not the 2,000 under-cover seats required to stay beyond a three-year deadline.

What's more, thanks to the Milton Keynes furore, clubs now have to be in the conurbation from which they take their name.

"We're not in Wimbledon. Wouldn't that be an irony?" Samuelson said.

AFC Wimbledon fans were also asked whether they wanted the club to stay a mainly voluntary organisation.

"And the big one is: to what extent are you willing to give up some degree of control in return for funding?" Samuelson said.

All this, and AFC Wimbledon are still three divisions below the Football League.

Samuelson thinks Wimbledon FC were victims of the wealth explosion in football and a move from community-rooted clubs towards "businesses run for the sordid benefit of the owners and the players.

"None of us ever wanted what happened to Wimbledon to happen.

"But ask most fans if they're enjoying it now. They love it."