Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill launched a charm offensive ahead of Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Area quarter-final tie showdown against AFC Wimbledon at Ashton Gate.
An ex-Wimbledon player himself, Cotterill admits the London club remains close to his heart.
Even though he will be doing his utmost to put one over on former team-mate Neil Ardley, City's manager admits he is delighted to see the Dons back in the Football League following an absence of 10 years, during which time the club was re-formed and forced to fight its way through the non-League ranks.
'A lot has happened since then and it is a little bit different from the club I was at,' said Cotterill, who signed for the Dons in 1989 and made 23 appearances in the old First Division before succumbing to serious injury and dropping down the leagues with Bournemouth and Hereford United.
'They were dealt a very harsh blow when they went out of the Football league all those years ago and they have done a fantastic job to come back.
'Full credit to Terry Brown (former manager), who got them up through the non-League divisions, and to Neil Ardley, who has established them in League Two. Neil is in there now, doing a really good job, and I'd like to wish him well - he's a former Wimbledon team-mate of mine and a good guy.
'We'll be looking forward to seeing him tomorrow night and to playing well and getting through.'
Ardley took over as manager when the Dons were struggling near the foot of League Two last season and oversaw an improvement in fortunes which culminated in them pulling clear of the relegation zone to maintain their Football League status.
Currently in a mid-table position, the Dons are enjoying a better season and caused a shock in the last round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy when defeating MK Dons 3-2.
'I think they are doing well,' added Cotterill. 'When Neil went in, they were down the bottom and struggling. But he's steadied the ship, changed some players around in the summer and got them going well.
'Everyone behind the scenes there is doing a fantastic job. Even when they were in the Premier League, it was difficult to get crowds and they will probably never be back in the Premier League, simply because the finances in the game have changed so massively.
'Wimbledon have done remarkably well just to get themselves back in the Football League and, hopefully, they will stay there for many years to come.'
Cotterill recalls his own playing days at Plough Lane with mixed emotions.
He said: 'I went to Wimbledon from non-League, which was always going to be difficult, because they were in the top flight at the time. Being there with the people I was with was definitely an education and it gave me a good grounding.
'My knees were the problem and I had two very bad cruciate injuries, so part of my Wimbledon experience was happy and part of it was unhappy.
'But the spirit in the camp was crazy and I really enjoyed it there.'
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