Martin wants to prove Dons are not a 'soft touch' with player demands

With Richard Keogh the latest in a line of high-profile departures from MK Dons this season, Russell Martin says his club are not a soft touch when it comes to player demands.

Rhys Healey, Alex Gilbey, Callum Brittain and Sam Nombe have all been sold this season - albeit Nombe's deal with Luton will be completed at the end of the season - with most now plying their trade at a higher level.

Allowing key figures to leave undoubtedly impacted Dons early in the season as they struggled without a direct replacement for Healey in particular and Martin admitted the departure of Keogh had an effect on his side ahead of Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Peterborough.

With players stating a desire to leave Stadium MK and then getting the move though, Martin insists Dons are not cowering to demands of moves away.

"We're not a soft touch, and we won't just let players go because they say they want to leave," he said. "The players we've let go have all been in different situations. Some we've been happy to let go for various reasons, financially or for the rest of the group. Others, we're reluctant to let go. We won't sell unless we can justify it financially.

"I'd be lying if I said I wanted Rhys Healey to leave. We got a very good deal for Rhys, it made sense. And Rhys as a character would have been very difficult to keep after that not happening. Everyone is different.

"I'm always honest with players and I'll tell them it's never a conversation to have until the deal is right for the club.

"I understand it. In football, you need players who are mentally prepared and are willing to do everything they can to help the club. Once that mentality shifts, it makes it difficult to get someone's full focus and to get them to produce their best. If your life is a mess, your performances will be the same. I had it a few times, you try and remain focussed but it is difficult when there's stuff in the background. You have to be aware of the human element of it, it's not just business and finance.

"If you keep a player when he doesn't want to stay, how will they impact the rest of the group? Every situation is different and you have to treat it differently.

"Letting someone go is not the be all and end all, that's football, it happens. The most important part is what we do next."