MK Dons’ relegation from the Championship in 2015\/16 was only supposed to be a minor setback in the club’s overall journey to becoming a Premier League team. What followed after, though, can only be described as a disaster. Robbie Neilson turned another potential relegation season into a mediocre mid-table League One finish, but he set the tone in 2017\/18 for one of the darkest seasons in the club’s short history.<\/p>\n
Twelve months on from that awful day that confirmed League Two football for the 2018\/19 campaign, the management of Paul Tisdale has seen MK Dons secure promotion back to League One at the first time of asking, stopping the rot of two relegations in three years. The future looks bright under the former Exeter City boss, and now the Dons can realign their hopes and visions of where they ultimately want the club to be.<\/p>\n
The route to promotion from League Two hasn’t all been plain sailing, despite the fact that at one point during the final day the Dons had moved up to second. The side were pitted against Mansfield Town<\/a> in their final fixture in what was a winner takes all clash.<\/p>\n Mansfield started the day in third, the last of the automatic promotion spots, on 76 points,\u00a0 while MK Dons were fourth, a play-off position, with the same number of points. The visiting Stags needed just a draw to confirm their place in League One next season, while Tisdale’s side knew that only a win would do.<\/p>\n They got their search for a win off to a good start too as, inside the first two minutes, loanee David Wheeler<\/a> continued his remarkable scoring form by heading in from Dean Lewington<\/a>‘s corner to silence the 5,000 strong travelling contingent.<\/p>\n The hosts fully dominated the first half, perhaps due to the fact that they were, at last, able to field enough defenders to play their successful five-at-the-back formation which brought them so much success in the first half of the campaign.<\/p>\n Perhaps, then, that’s why they were able to preserve their lead in a second half where the roles were completely reversed. Instead, Mansfield were doing all the pushing; pumping balls into the box and hoping that somebody in their colours would get on the end of them. Nine times out of ten, though, it was Dons defender Russell Martin<\/a> getting his head to the ball and managing to clear.<\/p>\n This season, defending leads late on has been a particular problem for MK Dons, but they did it with aplomb yesterday. They held firm and never really looked like conceding, which led to the jubilant scenes as Lee Nicholls<\/a> booted a free-kick up-field and Lee Probert blew the full-time whistle, seeing MK Dons secure promotion.<\/p>\n A clear-out of sorts already began in January when four players left the club permanently. In addition, Rhys Healey<\/a> went back to Cardiff City<\/a> upon the expiry on his loan and, after making one appearance in the Carabao Cup against Charlton Athletic, Robbie Muirhead<\/a> returned north of the border to join Dunfermline Athletic.<\/p>\n Over ten players joined the club last summer, but only a handful of those made regular appearances in the team throughout the season. Robbie Simpson<\/a> was always destined for a bit-part role after signing just a six-month deal (which was extended<\/a> not long into the season) while Lawson D’ath, Mathieu Baudry<\/a>, Ryan Harley<\/a>, Jordan Moore-Taylor<\/a> and Mitch Hancox<\/a> all suffered injury problems throughout.<\/p>\n Moore-Taylor’s performances earlier in the campaign and his regular features suggest that once he returns from injury he’ll be straight back in the team, but the others could face the possibility of being released or moved on with the club looking to create a team looking to stay in League One.<\/p>\n There’s no doubt that signings will need to be made in order for the club to not suffer another embarrassing return to the basement of the EFL. With very few rumours going around at the moment, player retention is going to be key.<\/p>\n The good thing is the main bulk of the squad, players such as Lee Nicholls<\/a>, Chuks Aneke<\/a>, Kieran Agard<\/a>, Joe Walsh<\/a> and Alex Gilbey<\/a>, stayed with the club after relegation last season, so should have no problem playing in League One again.<\/p>\n As long as those players are kept at the club again and are added to with enough quality to compete in a higher division, then MK Dons should have no issue with staying up. Play-off and promotion pushes should be firmly out of the question for this campaign at least. Just making sure another dismal season at the bottom doesn’t ensue should be the main priority, and with Tisdale at the wheel, how likely is that?<\/p>\n Main Photo<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\nClear Out or Build?<\/h2>\n
League One Chances<\/h2>\n