MK Dons’ Decline To Deepen After Years Of Neglect From The Top

Dons Head Coach Abdoullah Kheir with Dan Bolesta. MK Dons vs Exeter City. Photo: Chris Foxwell

There are whispers within women’s football that the recently appointed head coach of MK Dons, Abdoullah Kheir, has resigned after just three matches at the helm. 

In that brief period but really since the season started, the Dons have struggled significantly, failing to secure a single victory, with a record of two goals scored and thirteen conceded. Currently, the Dons sit at the bottom of the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier, accumulating only one point from fourteen matches played. 

This situation likely signals the end of Milton Keynes Dons’ presence in Tier 3 football.

What has transpired with Milton Keynes, especially considering they concluded the 2023/24 season with their highest-ever points total and position in Tier 3 football?

How did they find themselves in this predicament?

Since the conclusion of the Covid pandemic in the 2020/21 season, the MK Dons, under the guidance of former manager Charlie Bill, demonstrated consistent improvement, establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the league.

They competed against clubs like Ipswich, Portsmouth, Oxford, and Watford, all of which had significantly larger budgets. Despite training only twice a week, typically in the evenings, and not paying their players, MK Dons managed to deliver impressive performances, finishing fifth in consecutive seasons with point totals of 30 and 35. In the 2023/24 season, they were 11 points clear of sixth place and just 10 points behind joint fourth-place teams Ipswich and Oxford, who enjoyed much larger financial resources.

MK Dons forward Lily Dolling (18) during the FA WNL Southern Premier game against Portsmouth. Photo: Chris Foxwell

So, what went awry? It is widely known that 27 first-team players departed from Stadium MK at the beginning of the season. After discussions with then-owner Pete Winkleman, the leadership of the women’s team sought additional support from the club. They were informed that there were no extra funds available for the women’s program and that the women’s setup would be transitioned into the MK Dons Sports Education Trust (SET). A charitable organisation associated with a football club should not dictate the management of a high-level women’s program. It lacks the necessary resources and expertise to operate a football club effectively. While it excels at community initiatives, it falls short in nurturing and advancing elite players.

Pete’s failure to support the previous team was shortsighted, especially considering he was in the midst of selling MK Dons. It seems he preferred to harm the women’s side rather than accept assistance, knowing that the new ownership would have continued to cover expenses if he had agreed to some additional support.

Since then, the SET has arguably driven the program into decline. On the opening day of the 2024/25 season, the Dons suffered a humiliating 7-0 defeat to newly promoted Exeter, a stark contrast to the previous season when they had won 2-1 against the same team.

The starting lineup consisted mainly of 16- and 17-year-old RTC graduates thrust into competitive play for the first time, under the guidance of interim manager Dene Walsh, who had minimal experience at Tier 3. They faced a team that had been playing together for several seasons, with an average squad age exceeding 24. This scenario repeats itself every weekend, with Dons coming up against experienced third tier players and clubs that show commitment to support their players and staff.

The Dons have attempted to recruit players following a significant exodus. However, the word travels fast in this industry, and many players who once considered MK Dons are now deterred by the treatment of the former team. Additionally, as the results have continued to decline, any potential recruits are likely and have come from lower tiers.

Players from lower tiers may see this as a chance to advance. However, some of those signed from these levels come to understand why they were competing in tier 4 or 5; it reflects their true capabilities. Many have struggled to adjust to tier 3 and have subsequently withdrawn in frustration, held back by an inflated sense of self-worth that suggests they deserve to play at a higher level, despite their performances not meeting the required standards.

Milton Keynes Dons Women’s forward Leyla O’Brien (17) during the Adobe Women’s FA Cup R3 match between MK Dons and Birmingham City at Stadium MK. Photo: Chris Foxwell

As of now, Milton Keynes Dons women have yet to secure a competitive victory since their 2-1 win against Plymouth on May 5, 2024, which marked Charlie Bill’s last match as head coach.

From the outside, women’s football is flourishing but the reality is that there are too many clubs who are suffering, treading water and quietly on the decline. 

Should Kheir be leaving his role at the club then I do not suggest for one minute that it has anything to do with his ability to do the job, more likely it’s taken him this long to realise that he will not be provided with the resources to develop this group of players and progress the team forward. And it’s the players I feel most sorry for, they are stuck in the middle here. They want to be supported to reach their full potential. 

As it stands, MK Dons sit rooted to the bottom of the FA WNL Southern Premier Division with one point from fifteen matches, eleven behind Plymouth Argyle. Relegation is inevitable but hopefully, this will be an opportunity for the club to begin their rebuild. 

 

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