MK Dons’ first game after appointing Paul Warne as Head Coach saw them draw 0-0 with Newport County.
A tight game at Stadium MK saw two out-of-form sides drift to a stalemate, with neither the Dons nor the Exiles able to breakthrough.
The draw means that both sides are now on a run of six games without a win. MK Dons sit 19th in the League Two table with three games of the season still remaining, with the team 7 points above the relegation zone after Carlisle scored a surprise win over leaders Port Vale.
Warne took charge of an MK Dons game for the first time, with the former Rotherham and Derby boss having been appointed as the permanent successor to Scott Lindsey earlier this week.
His first assignment saw the Dons take on Newport County, with both sides having failed to win any of their last five League Two outings. The Welsh club had scored six against MK Dons when they met in Wales just before Christmas, so the Dons were looking for better things.
One notable absence was Alex Gilbey, with the Dons’ top scorer out through a groin injury expected to keep him out for the last games of the campaign.
The early stages saw a half-chance come for MK Dons, with Luke Offord’s header across goal failing to be turned home in a melee in the box.
A few early free-kicks at either end were negated by fouls in the box or offsides, but as the half progressed, the game began to be a stop-start affair, with neither side able to turn promising play into something more tangible.
Newport’s Cameron Antwi had an opportunity full his way as he cut inside before firing a curling effort that was held by MK Dons goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray.
MacGillivray then did well to reach a pass down the right flank before Michael Spellman, who was being played through by a deep pass down the Newport right.
MK Dons then had positive play. Jack Sanders bundled the ball wide at a free-kick before Connor Lemonheigh-Evans nearly found a breakthrough in unconventional fashion as his angled cross-shot had to be tipped away by Nick Townsend before it could creep into the top corner.
The hosts did suffer a blow, however, as despite wanting to stay on, two knocks left Callum Hendry unable to continue and the striker was taken off.
Spellman had a half-chance when his strike was deflected wide, before Scott Hogan was able to get into a promising position only to pass rather than shoot.
After the break, Sanders had a go when a corner was half-cleared to him and the centre-back’s attempt was held by Townsend.
Townsend would also keep out a low angled strike from Laurence Maguire, in a game that continued to look for someone to take control of proceedings amid the stop-start flow with a lot of fouls being given.
Perhaps the best chance of the second half, maybe even the game, nearly came single-handedly. Lemonheigh-Evans, who was in a blank shirt after an early facial cut, picked the ball up and beat several Newport players to reach the box. After the ball ricocheted back into his path, his lofted show beat Townsend only to glance off the post.
As it was, the game ultimately fizzled out. Jonathan Leko and Danillo Orsi would be frustrated with late half-chances, but that would be it for the Dons as they welcomed their new boss with a scoreless draw.
MK Dons: MacGillivray – Offord, Sanders, Maguire – Tomlinson, Lemonheigh-Evans, Thompson-Sommers, Kelly (Leko 74), O’Reilly (White 45) – Hogan, Hendry (Orsi 31)
Subs not used: Trueman, Nemane, Tripp, Waller
Booked: Thompson-Sommers, Maguire, Lemonheigh-Evans, O’Reilly
Newport: Townsend – Thomas, Clarke (Warner 79), Baker, McLoughlin – Antwi, Brennan, Whitmore (Evans 62) – Spellman (Ajiboye 79), Baker-Richardson (Hudlin 62), Kamwa
Subs not used: Webb, Martin, Patten
Booked: Baker-Richardson, Hudlin
The Parks Trust have announced the return of the Big Doggie Do event at Willen Lake celebrating man’s best friend.
This free event organised by The Parks Trust, the charity caring for MK’s parks, returns to Willen Lake on Saturday 17th (12 – 5pm) and Sunday 18th May (11 – 4pm), bringing with it a multitude of events that celebrate dogs.
Over the two-day event, visitors can expect a wide variety of events, including the annual dog show, dock-diving with K9 Aqua Sports, flyball with Keyne Kanines, main arena entertainment with Paws for Thought and Little Nippers and pet supplies.
There will also be delicious treats for pooches and people, a Club Tent for engaging dog-related talks and stalls with local businesses & charities.
Club Tent this year will feature lots of exciting talks, including one about medical dogs, who are trained to detect illnesses which can be less invasive for patients and, in many cases, can give a quicker diagnosis. An interactive quiz will also be taking place.
Julie Dawes, Events & Community Engagement Manager at The Parks Trust, said, “As a dog enthusiast, the Big Doggie Do at Willen Lake each May is hands down my favourite event. It’s wonderful to see so many dogs and their owners revelling in all the canine festivities!”
Big Doggie Do is billed by the Parks Trust as, “one of the most popular free events in The Parks Trust calendar and a true celebration of one of the largest park user groups – dog walkers and owners.”
A man has today (15/4) pleaded guilty to double murder on Christmas Day 2024 in Milton Keynes following a hearing at Luton Crown Court.
Jazwell Brown, 49, of Santa Cruz Avenue, Bletchley, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count each of possession of a knife in a public place and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Brown is to be sentenced on Thursday 22 May at the same court.
Joanne Pearson, aged 38, and Teohna Grant, aged 24, were attacked on Christmas Day at adjacent properties in Santa Cruz Avenue and sustained fatal stab wounds.
Two other people, a boy who was aged 17 at the time and a 29-year-old man, each suffered stab wounds but survived. A dog was also injured in the incident but survived.
Brown was arrested on Christmas Day and was charged on 27 December 2024.
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Brangwin, of the Major Crime Unit, said, “First and foremost, I would like to extend deepest condolences to the families of Joanne and Teohna who tragically died in this shocking incident on Christmas Day.
“Jazwell Brown is a dangerous man and I am glad that he has pleaded guilty, accepting responsibility for his actions that day, but the deaths of Joanne and Teohna cannot be undone.
“This was a brutal attack on his own partner and neighbour, in their respective homes, where they should have been able to feel safe and secure.”
Milton Keynes City Council has made a £12,500 donation to Willen Hospice thanks to a national scheme which recycles metal left behind after cremations.
Willen Hospice supports the families of end-of-life patients with bereavement and emotional care as well as caring for people in the local community who have life-shortening illnesses. They work closely with GPs, hospitals, community nursing staff and social workers to ensure that local care is co-ordinated, informed and supportive at all levels.
When a bereaved family gives permission, the city council works with the ICCM (The Institute of Cemetery and Cremation Management) to raise funds from the sale of metals recovered after cremations at Crownhill Crematorium. The metals come from items such as medical implants and artificial joints.
MK City Council has nominated Willen Hospice to be the latest recipient of funding raised through the scheme. This brings the total donated to local charities through metal recycling to more than £65,000 since 2014.
Nikki Poole, Community and Events Fundraising Manager at Willen Hospice said, “We’re enormously grateful to the city council for our nomination of funds and ICCM. We provide free expert care and support for local people with a life-limiting illness, and their loved ones, at what may be the toughest time of their lives. But as one of the most poorly funded hospices in the country, we rely on the generosity of our community to raise vital income for us. Events like this really do help us continue supporting patients and their families across Milton Keynes.”
Councillor Mick Legg, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, added “Thanks to the kindness of those families who give us their permission, this fund-raising scheme has enabled us to provide a boost to Willen Hospice who do so much to support the local community. Their compassionate care makes an enormous difference to those living with a life-limiting conditions and their families.”
In the past year, more than a thousand people have been supported in their own homes or cared for in the In-Patient Unit at Willen Hospice. To learn more about Willen Hospice and the care they provide to local families, visit: https://willen-hospice.org.uk
MK Dons have confirmed that Paul Warne has been appointed as the League Two club’s new Head Coach.
Warne has joined MK Dons on a contract of undisclosed length that the club describe as a “long-term deal that will give him the security and support to develop an impactful culture shift at Stadium MK”.
He will take charge with immediate effect, starting with the Dons’ next match against Newport County on Good Friday.
The deal sees Warne become the successor to Scott Lindsey, who left MK Dons in early March after six months in charge. Ben Gladwin had taken interim charge of the Dons’ last nine matches following Lindsey’s departure on March 3rd.
Warne will be accompanied at Stadium MK by assistant manager Richie Barker, who worked with Warne at Rotherham and Derby. The move sees Barker return to MK Dons, having been an assistant to Karl Robinson between 2014 and 2016 at the club, and also taking caretaker charge for 8 games following Robinson’s departure.
In his first interview as MK Dons Head Coach, Warne told MK Dons’ official website that he was excited to get started with the project.
He said, “I’m over the moon to be joining MK Dons with Richard at such a pivotal moment in the club’s history. The potential of the team under the ownership of Fahad and the Board is truly limitless, and I’m extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to manage the side over the coming years.
“This is an amazing project, and we’re so excited to drive it forward. I can’t wait to get on the grass, we have some talented players in the squad who we’re really looking forward to working with. I’d like to thank Fahad, Neil and Liam for putting their faith in us and I can’t wait to meet the Dons’ supporters on Friday.”
Warne enjoyed a lengthy playing career in which he made over 500 competitive appearances for clubs including Wigan, Rotherham, Mansfield, Oldham and Yeovil, before retiring at Rotherham in the early 2010s.
After a spell as a coach in Rotherham’s first team set up, he became a first team boss for the first time at Rotherham in 2016, first as a caretaker and then as a full-time boss. He managed the Millers in a time as a yo-yo club, winning promotion from League One three times but also enduring three Championship relegations, while he also delivered an EFL Trophy in 2022.
Warne left Rotherham to take charge of Derby County in 2022, earning promotion from League One last season before leaving the Rams in February after a difficult patch.
The move sees him join an MK Dons side currently sat 19th in League Two and seeking to rebuild for next season.
MK Dons Chairman Fahad Al Ghanim hailed the move to bring in Warne.
He said, “Paul Warne is a phenomenal football manager and I’m absolutely delighted he’ll be joining us at MK Dons – he was our number one choice. Having met with him, I was extremely impressed, not only with his vision for the team but also with his character. I truly believe Paul was the best manager available to us and I’m thrilled to have secured his services at Stadium MK on a long-term deal.
“I’d like to congratulate Paul and thank him for his belief in the project and the fantastic opportunity we have at our club. It’s my hope we can now enter pre-season full of optimism while looking ahead to an exciting future with Paul at the helm.”
This was also echoed by MK Dons’ Sporting Director Liam Sweeting, who said, “This is, quite simply, a massive appointment for MK Dons.
“Paul is someone we’ve admired for a long time. We got to know him well during the 21/22 season when we competed with his Rotherham side, and we’ve followed his progress closely since then – particularly his continued success at Derby. Paul will undoubtedly help us develop further as a football club and play a key role in driving us forward on this journey under our new ownership group. We’ve seen first-hand what can happen when performance on the pitch connects with the people of Milton Keynes in the stands.
“We truly believe that, under Paul’s leadership, we can re-establish that connection – playing an exciting, attacking brand of football and building the right culture and environment to give our First Team squad the clarity they need to succeed. We’re also really pleased to welcome Richie Barker back to Stadium MK and look forward to working closely with both him and Paul in the years ahead.”
