With Milton Keynes Dons sliding down the table, and the fanbase showing signs of mutiny, it was perhaps just a matter of time before the club parted ways with their manager. That time was today and Graham Alexander has been released from his post after just five months in charge of the club.
The hugely experienced boss, who has had successful spells at Salford City, Scunthorpe United, and then helping Fleetwood Town gain promotion to the EFL, would be more known perhaps for his time at Preston North End where he played over 350 games.
Good Form Turned Bad
His reputation made him an early candidate and favourite for the MK job in the summer after the club were relegated back to League Two and let Mark Jackson go, who had only taken the job himself in December last year.
After some great early season form, Alexander was named Manager of the Month for August after guiding the team to the top of the table. However, since that time, they have not won a league game, and let slip a 2-0 lead in added-on time against Barrow this past Saturday.
This led to a bizarre post-match interview that showed that the boss was clearly suffering from the latest setback and forced his superiors into a decision to try and get their season back on track. His rant of disbelief was also one of frustration. He is not out of his depth, but maybe a lack of support isn’t helping too.
"We have unbelievable ways of shooting ourselves in… in the foot." pic.twitter.com/tk8K6p5pYF
— Foxpunter | Mike Holden (@foxpunter) October 14, 2023
“We have unbelievable ways of shooting ourselves in the foot. It’s a blind panic at 2-1. Blind panic. You have to see it through… you have to see it through. And it’s not the first time it’s happened. It happened in pre-season: one punch and then another one.
“We can’t even put the shutters up after one goal, see out a little period. My God. I don’t know what to say. If it was out of character, or I didn’t see it coming… but I can’t lie. After the first one, a part of me could see it coming.”
Writer’s View
Since October 2016, when Karl Robinson left, MK has had almost as many caretaker/interim bosses as full-time ones. This could be one of the most poisoned chalices in English football. Graham Alexander should not have any trouble finding a new job. Whereas MK are now on the lookout again and whoever gets the role should be very wary of the trap door they could be standing on.
