The start of MK Dons’ season was not one they would have hoped for, yet the side are now hoping to clinch promotion back to League One at the first time of asking.
Having appointed Graham Alexander in the summer, hopes were high at Stadium MK. However, a less-than-successful spell saw the now-Bradford City manager let go from his position in October, with the club sat in lower mid-table.
However, the MK’s decision to then hire Mike Williamson into the role seems to have had the desired early effect. The side now sits comfortably in the playoff places.
This run over the past few months has meant that there is no guarantee which division Williamson’s side will be in next season, making the future planning of the squad extra difficult.
In addition to any potential transfers they may wish to make, contract extensions will also need to be considered, as according to Transfermarkt, two players could leave on a free in the summer.
Dean Lewington
Lewington continues to break records after claiming the title for the most appearances for a single club in the EFL over the festive period. The club captain continues to defy expectations by putting in 90 minutes week in and week out, meaning his tally for the number of league minutes played now exceeds 72,000.
However, the one club man will be 40 years old at the point his contract expires this summer. How the club and the player wish to proceed is still unknown. Williamson continues to use him regularly, now deploying him on the left side of a back three, meaning his pace and fitness will not quite be as challenged as when he was playing full-back or wing-back.
Warren O’Hora
Having begun his career at Bohemians in the Republic of Ireland, centre-half O’Hora got the opportunity to move to England when he was signed by Brighton and Hove Albion’s academy in 2018. Following a successful loan spell at Stadium MK, the club decided to make the deal permanent for a reported £200k in January 2021.
The 24-year-old has featured in every League Two match this campaign, scoring three goals in the process. His consistent reliability at the back is one of the things that has set him apart from his competition, as he has been one of only two players in the squad to have accumulated more than 2,500 minutes in the league. It remains to be seen how his contract situation is dealt with this summer.
Writer’s View
Both of these situations are entirely different scenarios. Taking Lewington’s first, he has been such a servant to the club that it would seem crazy for his contract to expire and he then join another club. If the player chooses that it is time for him to hang up his boots, then there would almost certainly still be a role for him in Milton Keynes.
O’Hora on the other hand was a player whose decision to stay at the club last summer was a surprise. The defender would have undoubtedly had interest in him from clubs higher in the EFL following his consistent form in a less-than-great Dons side last season. Whether he signs a new contract could be entirely down to whether promotion is achieved.