COMMENT: Championship promotion at the root of Robinson's MK Dons demise

The third longest serving manager in English football is now on the unemployment pile after a slow and painful demise over the last 10 months in particular, but one that had roots almost immediately from his finest achievement.

Winning promotion with a team packed with talent, quality and depth, Dons entered the Championship with a team distinctly lacking in all three.

Relegated at the first attempt with a whimper, the start to Dons’ Sky Bet League One return has seen a similar run of form cost the manager his job, as Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Southend - the 13th home game in a row without a win - was the final nail in Robinson’s coffin.

Offered plenty of opportunities to leave for pastures new, Robinson stuck around waiting for his chance to spend big as he was so often promised from on high, only to make do with precious little.

While stars were found in the likes of Patrick Bamford, Adam Smith, Benik Adobe, Will Grigg to name but a few, Robinson ran out of rabbits this time around.

Threadbare and obviously still lacking, whoever takes over the helm now will be faced with no easy task to guide a misfiring Dons side upwards.

They are without a standout leading man, are lost in their way and desperate for a direction to pull in.

What now of Robinson’s tenure at the club?

The man who helped hone England international Dele Alli, who oversaw the incredible 4-0 league cup win over Manchester United, won promotion to the Championship and instigated the first win over AFC Wimbledon now has a shadow cast over his legacy with 12 months of disappointment.

Dons now need a new direction, desperately need a recruitment drive to get the fans excited again and more importantly than anything else, they need to stop the rot.