MK Dons - Where it all went wrong: Pt3

After MK Dons' relegation from the Championship on Saturday, the Citizen looks back at key dates and reasons behind their return to League 1.
Karl Robinson with deadline day signings Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Alex REvellKarl Robinson with deadline day signings Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Alex REvell
Karl Robinson with deadline day signings Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Alex REvell

Part 3: December 24, 2015 - Robbo is offered a transfer kitty for the January transfer window

Manager Karl Robinson was offered an early Christmas present by chairman Pete Winkelman and Executive Director Andy Cullen - money to spend in the transfer window.

Read Andrew Cullen’s interview: Robbo will get money to spend in JanuarySpeaking exclusively to the Citizen, Mr Cullen said Robinson would be given extra cash to splash in January, admitting the club had under-estimated how much it would take to remain in the Championship after securing promotion.

A little over a week later though, Robinson, speaking to the media after a 1-1 draw at Leeds, confirmed the money he was being offered was to be taken from next season’s budget, meaning the possibility of relegation would leave him short come the following summer.

Working on a shoe-string once again, Robinson off-loaded Diego Poyet, Simon Church, Lee Hodson, Mark Randall, Sergio Aguza, Cristian Benavente and Dale Jennings in a bid to free up money. It allowed him to make moves for strikers Alex Revell and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas on deadline day, but Revell has scored just twice since his transfer, while Emmanuel-Thomas has made just four appearances, once again highlighting the issues with Dons’ recruitment process.

Read part 1 here: Wigan sign Will Grigg

Read Part 2 here: Brentford 2-0 MK Dons

Part 4 online from 6am on Monday, April 25.