Business and football have to help each other to survive, says Martin

The sale of players during the transfer window is helping prop up not just MK Dons, but the Stadium MK Group as a whole - and that's only fair, says Russell Martin.

Last year, chairman Pete Winkelman admitted the club were losing up to £10,000 PER DAY and were being kept afloat by the performance of the surrounding businesses, including the hotel at Stadium MK and activities in the Marshall Arena.

But during the pandemic, finances have taken a hit. It has meant sales of Alex Gilbey, Rhys Healey, Callum Brittain and potential fees for Sam Nombe - which have been met with contempt by some fans - could be used to keep the rest of the business going, rather than being invested back into Martin's first team.

"There has been a global pandemic," said Martin. "The business is the business and it has funded the football, but it works together. Sometimes we have to help them out as well. It has been a tough time for everyone.

"To talk about the window as a whole when the landscape has changed from week to week, day-to-day is difficult."

Speaking about the discontent from some of the fans, Martin added: "I understand it, a lot gets said in the longest transfer window ever. We lost players the fans didn't want to lose, and I didn't want to lose some of them. But when I talk about the process that comes into recruitment, how we play and what we do on the pitch, I trust it.

"I'm clear on what I think the club needs and everyone we've brought in improves us.

"I don't want to sell players but if we're doing it regularly and it helps the club, we're doing something right.

"We're not based on emotion on the pitch or in recruitment."