Milton Keynes Dons F.C.

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Milton Keynes Dons

Full name

Milton Keynes Dons
Football Club

Nickname(s)

The Dons

Founded

1889 (as Wimbledon Old
Centrals FC) or 2004 (as
Milton Keynes Dons)
—see text for details

Ground

National Hockey Stadium
Milton Keynes

Capacity

9,000

Chairman

Manager

League

League One, 22nd (relegation)





Home colours





Away colours

Milton Keynes Dons F.C. is a football club in Milton Keynes, England. As of the 2006–07 season, they play in Football League Two.

The club was relaunched under its current name on 21 June 2004, nine months after it (as Wimbledon F.C.) relocated to Milton Keynes. It is officially recognised by The FA as the continuation of Wimbledon F.C., but most of that club's original fans no longer support it^{[citation needed]} , having instead founded their own club, A.F.C. Wimbledon, in south-west London, which they regard as the legitimate successor to Wimbledon F.C.

1 History
- 1.1 Change of name
2 Supporters club recognition
3 New stadium
4 Training Ground
5 League history
6 Reserves
7 Current squad
- 7.1 Out on loan
8 Managers
9 Other clubs that have moved towns
10 External links
11 References

[edit] History

Main articles: Relocation of professional sports teams and Professional sports league organization

An account of the controversy surrounding the club's move is detailed in Wimbledon F.C.

The history of the MK Dons begins in the late 1990s with Pete Winkelman, a music entrepreneur and avid promoter of Milton Keynes, who wanted top-class football in the town. The Borough had four^[1] non-League football teams, of which Milton Keynes City was the most advanced (playing in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division).

One option available to Winkelman would have been to invest in this club in the hope of repeating the success achieved (initially) by Max Griggs, founder of the Dr. Martens footwear manufacturer, who had financed the creation of Rushden and Diamonds from two small clubs in nearby Northamptonshire. However, Winkelman saw an opportunity to build a FIFA-compliant new stadium complex, as part of a large commercial development that included Asda and IKEA superstores, and near a mainline railway station. This was probably the last remaining site in the town that fitted the bill: if this opportunity were lost, there would not be another. It was unlikely he could persuade the backers to fund such a stadium for what was at the time a poorly-supported non-League team. Instead, he planned to bring in a professional club from another town.

Since 1998, Winkelman had been approaching other clubs that were struggling financially, including Barnet, Luton Town and Queens Park Rangers, without success. However, in Wimbledon F.C., itself looking for a new home after years out of Wimbledon and in a crowded London market, he found a club willing to listen. He persuaded the directors that a move to Milton Keynes might give the club the new start it needed.

On May 28, 2002, the Football Association approved the move to Milton Keynes. Although there have been other such relocations in the UK, this one attracted particular criticism: those who interpreted the League decision as American-style sports "franchises" gave Wimbledon the disparaging title "Franchise F.C.". However, on 5 June 2003,Wimbledon went into financial administration with debts of more than £20 million.^[2] Part of the reason for the increasing debts was that football supporters were boycotting games following the controversial decision to allow the move to Milton Keynes.

During the 2003/2004 season, the club was being managed by the administrators and many of the team's best players were being sold off. At the end of a very poor season, the club were relegated to League One (the new name for the Second Division). During the summer of 2003, Winkelman helped finance the National Hockey Stadium's conversion for football. In September 2003, Wimbledon F.C. moved into the National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes. By spring of 2004, Winkelman bought the business out of bankruptcy.

[edit] Change of name

In June 2004, despite the Football Association's "Independent Commission" recommendations, Winkelman announced that Wimbledon FC would change its name to Milton Keynes Dons FC, having previously promised fans a vote on the issue; the committee of the official supporters' club had voted unanimously for the word "Wimbledon" to be retained in the name.

Winkelman announced that he was including the word "Dons" formally in the new title (and not just as a nickname) in recognition of the previous history of the club, but it was clear that he wanted to close that chapter. When the club formally emerged from administration under the new name and ownership on July 1, he also announced new team colours and a new badge, this time without any consultation. The badge bears the legend MMIV, signifying that MK Dons is a new club started in 2004. The domain name mkdons.com had been registered by Winkelman in 2000.

[edit] Supporters club recognition

On 4 June 2005, at the 2005 Football Supporters Federation "Fans Parliament" (AGM), the FSF refused ^[3] MK Dons Supporters Club membership of the FSF, by 98 votes to 44 in a debate that, among other arguments, questioned the fact that the League had yet to introduce any new rules to prevent "franchising". In addition, the FSF membership agreed with the Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association that the Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association should not be entitled to join until the history and honours of Wimbledon FC are returned to the London Borough of Merton and/or AFC Wimbledon.

Shortly afterwards, the Football League announced six new rules on club relocation.

At its AGM on 5 June 2006, the FSF again considered a motion^[4] proposed by the FSF Council to allow MK Dons Supporters Association membership if the honours and trophies of Wimbledon F.C. are given to the London Borough of Merton and/or AFC Wimbledon.

In October 2006, agreement^[5] was reached between the club, MK Dons Supporters Association, Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association and the Football Supporters Federation. The replica of the FA Cup plus other club patrimony gathered under the name of Wimbledon FC are to be returned to the London Borough of Merton. Ownership of trademarks and website domain names related to Wimbledon FC will also be transferred to the Borough. On receipt of the trademarks and domain names, AFC Wimbledon members believe^{[citation needed]} that the Borough will immediately transfer their ownership to them.

If the membership of the Federation approves, the agreement anticipates that the FSF will accept MKDSA into membership and withdraw the request that fans boycott matches involving MK Dons.

[edit] New stadium

Main articles: National Hockey Stadium and Denbigh Stadium

The club's current home stadium is the National Hockey Stadium, which is beside Milton Keynes Central railway station and which has been temporarily converted for football.

In February 2005, the club's contractors started work on a new stadium and arena complex at Denbigh North near Bletchley railway station, provisionally called Denbigh Stadium. The complex will combine a 22,000 seat outdoor stadium (with plans^[6] to upgrade to 32,000 within 12 to 18 months) with a 3,000 seat indoor arena, where the MK Lions basketball team will be based. The stadium, designed to UEFA's Four Star specification, is due to open on 13 July 2007. The precise details of the opening are yet to be announced, though there are plans to use the stadium and its opening as a centrepoint for the 40th Birthday celebrations of Milton Keynes which will take place in 2007.

[edit] Training Ground

The club currently uses the public sports facilities at Woughton on the Green for training. The club's academy sides also play their home games here. During the 2005 close season a new plastic-covered artificial training pitch nicknamed 'the bubble' was constructed.

[edit] League history

The club spent most of the 2004–05 season in the League One relegation zone; Stuart Murdoch was dismissed in November with relegation looking certain. He was replaced by former Bristol City manager Danny Wilson, who was given the seemingly impossible aim to save the team from relegation. Wilson managed to restore the team's home form and they escaped relegation on goal difference, above Torquay; had Wrexham not gone into administration and had ten points deducted (finishing 22nd), then MK Dons would have been relegated instead.

The 2005–06 season was another tough one for Wilson's men. They failed to record a league win until their eleventh game of the season. A brief run of good form saw them climb to mid-table, but another decline soon set in and they spent the first three months of 2006 at the foot of the table. Three wins in a row gave fans hope of another "great escape", but they were relegated to the Coca-Cola League Two after failing to win their final game of the season, finishing two points adrift of safety.

Since the club began playing in Milton Keynes, they have dropped to two divisions below where they were when they last played in London (as Wimbledon). Along with Swindon Town they became the first former Premiership sides to drop into the lowest tier of the Football League when relegated in May 2006. Danny Wilson was sacked just after the end of the season and was replaced by Martin Allen on 21st June 2006.

In the 2006-07 season, the team has found better form in League Two under Allen's leadership, lying in 2nd place at the halfway point of the season.

[edit] Reserves

The club's reserve side currently competes in the Football Combination East Division, having formerly competed in the FA Premier Reserve League before that leagues restructuring in 2006.

The reserve players also make up the bulk of the squad which competes annually in the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup.

[edit] Current squad

The following list shows players who have been given a first team squad number for the 2006/7 season or who have made a first team appearance. It is correct as of 14 March 2007:

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Ademola Bankole
2	DF	Jamie Smith
3	DF	Dean Lewington
4	DF	Drissa Diallo
5	MF	Dominic Blizzard (on loan from Watford)
6	DF	Sean O'Hanlon
7	MF	Jon-Paul McGovern
8	MF	Paul Mitchell
9	FW	Clive Platt
10	FW	Izale McLeod
12	DF	Jude Stirling
13	MF	Keith Andrews (captain)
14	MF	Gary Smith
15	MF	Gareth Edds
16	FW	Leon Knight

No.	Position	Player
20	FW	Aaron Wilbraham
21	MF	Jonathan Hayes (on loan from Reading)
23	DF	Lloyd Dyer
24	MF	Junior Lewis
25	GK	Lee Harper
26	MF	Albert Jarrett (on loan from Watford)
31	GK	Adolfo Baines Pilart
35	DF	Sam Page
37	DF	Joe Howe
38	FW	Sam Baldock
39	DF	Sam Collins
40	DF	Oliver Thorne
42	DF	James Nash
--	DF	Adam Watts (on loan from Fulham)

[edit] Out on loan

No.	Position	Player
11	MF	Nick Rizzo (on loan to Chesterfield)
17	DF	Ben Chorley (on loan to Gillingham)
18	MF	Ben Harding (on loan to Grays Athletic)
19	FW	Scott Taylor (on loan to Brentford)
22	FW	John Hastings (on loan to St. Albans)
36	DF	Kieron Murphy (on loan to Walton)
41	GK	Robert Webb (on loan to Walton)

[edit] Managers

Stuart Murdoch (2002–2004)
Jimmy Gilligan (2004)
Danny Wilson (2004–2006)
Martin Allen (2006-)

[edit] Other clubs that have moved towns

See Relocation of professional sports teams: United Kingdom

[edit] External links

[edit] References

^ See Sport in Milton Keynes#Football
^ http://www.miltonkeynestoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=415&ArticleID=529534 Dons' move to city in doubt (MK Citizen, 9 June 2003)
^ http://www.fsf.org.uk/media/pdfs/annual-reports/annual-report2005.pdf , Motion 1 on pages 6; minutes at http://www.fsf.org.uk/media/pdfs/annual-reports/annual-report2006.pdf (pages 44/45)
^ http://www.fsf.org.uk/media/pdfs/annual-reports/annual-report2006.pdf Motion 6 (pages 6)
^ "Accord on history and honours of Wimbledon FC" - WISA website
^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/6366309.stm

Football League Two, 2006-2007

Football in England

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League competitions	The FA	Cup competitions
Premier League	England	FA Cup
The Football League (Champ, 1, 2)	(U-21) (B)	Football League Cup
Football Conference (Nat, N, S)	List of clubs	Community Shield
Northern Premier League (Prem, 1)	List of venues	Football League Trophy
Southern League (Prem, Mid, S&W)	(by capacity)	FA Trophy
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English football league system	Records	FA NLS Cup

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