The legendary figure made the decision to move an easy one

A phone call from the legendary John Gorman was enough to convince Dean Bowditch to join MK Dons back in 2011.

The young Bowditch had a strong season at Yeovil Town after leaving Ipswich Town, but turned down a deal to stay at Huish Park in favour of a move to Stadium MK.

Having watched Dons suffer defeat in the League One play-offs to Peterborough United, Bowditch felt he would be a good fit in Karl Robinson’s side at MK1, but he admitted a call from the young manager might not have been enough to lure him to Milton Keynes.

But a call from his number two, former England assistant manager Gorman was enough all the convincing he needed.

“You can’t say no to John Gorman! That brought me here very quickly,” Bowditch said. “I worked with John very briefly when I was on loan at Wycombe. What a guy, what an exceptional name not just in football but international football. He called me asking me if I’d come and sign, and I was almost in the car before the end of the call.

“MK were pushing and pushing for promotion, but they’d just missed out in the play-offs to Peterborough. I’d watched those games, just missing out on that trip to Wembley and I wanted to help the club push to the next step. When I got the call, it was almost destiny, having watched those games thinking I could play for a team like that.

“I was welcomed here with open arms, and that’s why I will always fight back when people say negative things about the club. I cannot speak highly enough of my time here from the get-go.”