MK Dons have parted company with manager Dan Micciche after just three months in charge. The former Dons academy coach took the role after the sacking of Robbie Neilson in January but has been unable to prevent the Dons from looking like certainties for relegation.
Dan Micciche Leaves MK Dons by Mutual Consent
Micciche’s appointment as manager made very little difference to the Dons’ abysmal form this season. His first game was a home loss to lower league opposition in the form of Coventry City in the FA Cup. It took until March for him to register his first win as manager when they recorded a 3-2 win over Rotherham United at Stadium MK.
This was turned into back-to-back wins when the Dons defeated now-relegated side Bury at home, before a further draw and a win were picked up against Blackpool and Gillingham respectively.
The upturn in fortunes throughout March saw Micciche nominated for the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month. However, the accolade instead went to Wigan’s Paul Cook.
This form saw the Dons briefly climb out of the relegation zone. However, a home defeat to Blackburn and a 5-1 drumming away at promoted side Wigan sent the Buckinghamshire club back into the drop-zone.
A further heavy defeat, 4-0 away at Southend, was the final straw for the inexperienced manager, and the Dons now find themselves ending the season with no permanent boss.
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Speaking to mkdons.com, Micciche said: “This is a Club that means a lot to me and my family and I put every ounce of effort into the job. Unfortunately, the fine margins have gone against us and it hasn’t worked out in the way we would have wanted.
“I am extremely grateful to the board, staff, players and fans for their tremendous support during my time here. It has been an honour to manage this Football Club and I would love nothing more than to see it get back to where it belongs.”
MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman will address the media on Monday regarding the decision to part company with a second manager in only three months. He did, however, say: “I am grateful to Dan for his dedication to the role during this testing period in our history and I sincerely wish him the very best for the future.”
Assistant manager Keith Millen will take charge of the remaining three league games. The Dons will need to take maximum points from all of them if they are to have any realistic hopes of avoiding a second relegation in three years.
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