"You just want to get up": Strachan urges MK Dons to concentrate on promotion, not the title
Two legends predict big things for MK Dons if they can get it over the line this season
Former Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has told MK Dons to concentrate on securing promotion rather than the League Two title in the final few games this season.
Dons sit second in the standings with five games to go, five points behind leaders Bromley, with the Ravens to head to Milton Keynes next Saturday for what could be a top-of-the-table clash.
The ex-Aberdeen, Manchester United and Leeds United midfielder however has said when the first ball is kicked next August, whether Dons have won the title or not, as long as they are in League One it won’t matter.
“The difference between finishing second and winning the title for MK Dons? It's none,” he told OLBG. “You just want to get up that next level. None whatsoever. You get a medal for that. It doesn't really matter in 20 years time if you're sitting with a medal and you've not got two pennies to rub together.
“The further you go up the ladder, the more successful you get. It doesn't matter. I think the euphoria of getting promoted doesn't it change? They might have a medal, but you're going in the same direction as them. You're in the same bus. You're in the same plane.
“That's it. We're off on a holiday now to another division. It doesn't matter one little bit. It doesn't matter. It's how you take up the next challenge.”
“Could do a Wrexham”
Former England international Chris Waddle also backed MK Dons not only to go up this season, but to potentially fight for promotion in League One next time out too.
Citing the rocket through the leagues Wrexham have enjoyed in recent years, the ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Tottenham winger told FruityKing that he sees no reason why Paul Warne’s side cannot be competitive in the division above as well.
He said: “I think MK Dons have got the budget to stay in League One next season. When Paul Warne went in there, he brought a lot of players in, and a lot of experience. They should know how to get over the line this year and I think they definitely will.
“Let's see how they kick on from there. Their budget was good this year and very good for League Two and it'll have to improve again next year if they want to go again to get up to the play-offs in League One. They’ll need to bring in a few players, and they’ve got quite an old, aging squad so they might have to let a few go and bring new faces in.
“MK Dons are doing it a little bit like how Wrexham did it. They’ve brought in a lot of experienced players to get out of the league and they could do it again to get into the Championship if they strengthen again this summer. I think they will be very busy in the transfer market.”