Friday 28 March 2014

Barker Hired

Richie Barker has today been appointed as Karl Robinson's assistant at MK Dons.
Dons boss of almost 4 seasons, Robinson is now onto his fourth number 2 after the unsuccessful appointment of Mick Harford, that lasted just one season, and Gary Waddock.
2 weeks ago tomorrow (Saturday) former Wycombe, Aldershot and QPR boss Waddock left his post as Robinson's right-hand man to take over at league 2 promotion chasers Oxford United.
Barker, fresh from his Pompey firing earlier in the week, was quick to secure his place back in football, taking a short term deal after spells in charge of Bury and Crawley preceded his 20-game Pompey reign.
Providing all goes well, one can assume that the 38 year old will take the role full time as Karl Robinson seeks for a long-term, successful replacement to Waddock.
Barker will be in the dugout for MK Dons' visit of league leaders Wolves on Saturday.

Thursday 27 March 2014

Dons duo out for Wolves

Karl Robinson will be without Izale McLeod and Stephen Gleeson at his disposal on Saturday afternoon when Wolves come to town.
Striker, McLeod, is the Dons all time leading goalscorer in his second spell with the club after rejoining last January. The Birmingham-born striker has chipped in with 7 goals this season and will be out for around  2 weeks with a calf problem.
Ex-Wolves midfielder Gleeson was due to return from a 2 match ban for 10 yellow cards.  He joined Stadium:MK side on loan in 2009 before making the move permanent that summer.  He has since gone on to be one of Karl Robinson's most valuable players and is the Dons vice-captain.  He will also be out for around a fortnight.
They join defender Lee Hodson and midfielders Darren Potter and loanee Larnell Cole on the injury list.

Finally, young defender Harry Hickford has joined Skrill South side Chelmsford City on loan till the end of the season.

Wednesday 26 March 2014

Flanagan Farmed out to Boro

MK Dons have today agreed to loan out 22 year old defender Tom Flanagan.
 Flanagan, who came through the youth system at the Dons alongside the likes of Sam Baldock and Daniel Powell, will go straight into the Graham Westley's squad for the trip to Coventry tonight.
Branded a potential captain by some, the centre-back broke onto the scene in the 2011-12 season, making 28 appearances and scoring 3 goals as Karl Robinson's side finished 5th, losing out to Huddersfield in the play-offs.
Following that, the form of the more experienced Gary MacKenzie, Mathias Doumbe, Shaun Williams and Antony Kay meant first time opportunities would be rare for Flanagan so the Dons loaned him out to Gillingham and then Barnet in 2012/13.  He made 0 first team appearances for the Stadium:MK side last term.
On his return at the start of this season the academy graduate once again found it tough nailing down a place until Antony Kay's 10 week hip injury.  Flanagan made his first appearance of the season at former club Gillingham and gave away 2 penalties and received a red card all within the first 9 minutes.  He went on to play 2 more games, scoring one own goal before Dons boss Robinson brought in Jordan Spence from West Ham and Flanagan hasn't seen any first team action since.
After just signing a new 1-year contract, Flanagan will be keen to finish of this season well at relegation threatened Stevenage, gaining some valuable match experience and taking it into the 2014-15 campaign.

Harry Wright. (@harrymkdons04)