The MK Dons head coach has not heard his job is under any pressure

Paul Warne acknowledged he cannot continue to make excuses his for side’s poor start to the season but does not believe his position in charge is under threat.

After ten games, MK Dons are a far cry from their pre-season ambitions, sat 20th in the standings with just one win and nine points to their names. By his own admission, Warne expected Dons to have between 15 and 20 points by this stage, a total which would place them handily in the top ten.

However, after losing all the good will earned with the win over Luton last Saturday with a poor second-half showing against Blackpool three days later, resulting in a 2-0 defeat, some elements of the fanbase are calling for change at the top.

Having had conversations with owner Fahad Al Ghanim about the team’s showing so far this season, Warne said he has had no inkling from the top that his position is under threat.

Following Bromley’s decision to part ways with Andy Woodman, who won the League Two title ahead of Dons just five months ago, Warne was asked whether he would be given time to steer his side back in the right direction.

He said: “I hope so, because I really enjoy it here. They’re all my lads in the dressing room now, I’ve either signed or kept them. I haven’t had a conversation with the owner that says anything but, but I’m also sitting here after another manager lost his job today. I’m aware of the expectations.

“I put myself out there by saying anything outside the top six this season is a failure, and I still think that. Whether that’s enough of a failure for me to lose my job, that’s not my decision. Mine is to manage the group and get the best out of the players so the owner can see improvements. If he doesn’t see that, then it’s up to the board. You can’t go to work every day expecting to lose your job, it’s not the way to perform.”

Discussing his side’s start to the season, Warne admitted they have fallen short of everyone’s expectations.

“I think we’re close but we can’t continuously say that,” he continued. “I’m very candid, and I think we’re pretty good but not good enough to win enough games. We’ve not taken enough chances, we’ve not been dynamic in the final third or from set-pieces.

“It’s not the start we wanted. We prepared for a promotion push and I still think we’re in one but we’re not pushing as hard as I’d like. After ten games, I would have expected 15-20 points and we’re a long way off that.

“I don’t think we’re a long way short on our performances but it’s goals and results that matter. The performances have been ok without flourishing.

“But we are underperforming on points, and that has to get dealt with. We can’t stagger on under a point per game for 46 games because we know where that leads.”