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FIRST TEAM COACHING STAFF

Posted on: Wed 11 Jan 2012
KARL ROBINSON - MANAGER

Karl RobinsonKarl stepped up from assistant to manager of MK Dons in May 2010, in his first season in charge he won plaudits throughout the football world for the style of football played by his team as they finished the regular League 1 season in the play-offs.

Although falling short in the play-off semi-finals where the Dons were eventually beaten by rivals Peterborough United, the sheer fact that Liverpudlian Karl, in his rookie season, had guided the Club to that position was regarded as a successful season.

Karl became the Football League's youngest manager when he took to the helm of stadiummk, aged just 29 at the time of his appointment.

A promising prospect as a young player on YTS terms with Swindon Town, a serious back injury put paid to Karl's potential playing career before he moved into coaching.

Returning to his hometown, he worked for eight years in the Liverpool Academy under Anfield legend Steve Heighway, earning his UEFA B and A coaching qualifications during his time with the Premier League club and contributing to the development of a host of Reds starlets.

Among those he left a big impression on was Paul Ince, who established a relationship with Robinson during his time both playing for Liverpool and watching his son Thomas' rise through the Academy ranks. Following Ince's appointment as MK Dons manager in 2007, Karl would be subsequently brought onboard as first team coach.

Dons went on to win a League 2 and Johnstone's Paint Trophy Double that season, with Karl making a considerable contribution to the entertaining brand of football the side had become the side's trademark.

Upon Ince's appointment as manager of Premier League Blackburn that summer, Karl was among the staff to join him, again as first team coach. His ideas and methods were very well-received by Rovers' star-studded squad of players and, following Ince's departure later that season, new boss Sam Allardyce was quick to secure Robinson's immediate future. Having looked like potential relegation candidates for long periods, Blackburn secured a 15th-placed finish.

When Ince returned to MK Dons for the start of the 2009/10 season, the opportunity to step up to an assistant manager's role was too big for Karl, who had recently began work towards his UEFA Pro Licence, to turn down. He rejoined the Dons for the start of that season and again set about encouraging a brand of high-tempo, passing football that help guide the Club into promotion contention.

Having played a big part in the coaching of the team, Karl was thrust into an even more prominent role upon Ince's decision to resign from his post at the end of the season. Robinson effectively took charge of first team affairs for the final four games, drawing some promising performances from a desperately-young squad stripped of most of its regular personnel by injury and suspension.

A year into his partnership with assistant John Gorman and with his philosophy of football embedded into the way of life at MK Dons, the only target ahead for Karl is to gain promotion to the Championship.

JOHN GORMAN - ASSISTANT MANAGER

John GormanA former England assistant manager, former coach and player with Tottenham and a man truly experienced at every level of the English game, John was Karl Robinson's first choice as number two following his appointment in the summer of 2010.

Born in West Lothian in 1949, John began his career as a player with Celtic before going on to play for Carlisle United, Spurs and MLS outfit Tampa Bay.

His coaching career has seen him become a hugely-respected figure in the English game, starting with Swindon under long-term friend Glenn Hoddle in the early-90s and spanning spells as both manager and assistant at clubs such as Wycombe, Gillingham, Northampton, Southampton, Ipswich and, most recently, Queens Park Rangers.

John's most memorable hour as a coach came when Hoddle appointed him his assistant in the England job, a post he held between 1996 and 1999. John played a huge role in England's qualification for the 1998 World Cup in France, where the Three Lions were eliminated in the last 16 by Argentina on penalties.

PAUL HEALD - GOALKEEPING COACH

Paul HealdOne of the Club's truly great servants, Paul is one of few staff to remain from the Wimbledon era, having spent nine years as a player with the Dons after joining from Leyton Orient in 1995.

After hanging up his gloves as a player, Paul stepped into the role of goalkeeping coach but also spent time as a chief scout under Martin Allen during the 2006/07 season. Ever a popular member of the backroom staff, he has become an integral part of the Club's development since 2004.

Born in South Yorkshire in 1968, Healdy began his playing career as a trainee at Sheffield United before signing for Leyton Orient as a 20-year-old. He made 219 appearances during seven years with the O's, which also included loan spells with Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon Town.

He joined Wimbledon for £125,000 in 1995, becoming a core member of the infamous Crazy Gang, and remained with the Dons until the Club's move to Milton Keynes in 2003 and the subsequent emergence of Milton Keynes Dons a year later.

DAMIEN DOYLE - HEAD OF FITNESS & CONDITIONING

Damien DoyleDamien rejoined the Dons in July 2010, after new boss Karl Robinson targeted the 31-year-old Dubliner as his first choice to become Head of Fitness and Conditioning.

Having previously worked for the Club under Martin Allen's managerial reign three years previously, Damien relinquished his post at Wycombe Wanderers to return to Milton Keynes and become part of Robinson's revolution.

A knowledgeable operator and expert motivator that enjoys a great rapport with staff and players alike, Damien received a glowing recommendation from former Dons skipper Keith Andrews before Robinson added him to the backroom team.

He also worked with Allen at Brentford and Leicester City, either side of his spell with the Dons, and operated under both Peter Taylor and Gary Waddock at Wycombe before his switch back to the New City.

SIMON CRAMPTON - HEAD OF SPORTS MEDICINE

Simon CramptonBlackpool-born Simon heads up the first team's medical department, managing a multi-disciplinary team that includes a wide variety of medical and health professionals - all of whom ensure the players recover as quickly and safely as possible following injury.

As the Club's head physiotherapist, Simon provides assessments, treatments and interventions on a daily basis, from the training pitch to matchday, and works closely with Damien Doyle on prehabilitation programmes that aim to reduce injury risks throughout the squad.

A Chartered Physiotherapist, Member of The Society of Physiotherapists and registered with the Health Professions Council, Simon has a BSc Hons degree from London Metropolitan University and an MSc from the renowned University of Brighton's School of Physiotherapy.

Joined the Club in 2006 as Head Academy Physiotherapist before being quickly promoted to the first team environment and developing the medical department as Head of Sports Medicine.

A puller of few punches in the banter stakes, Simon's unique take on events behind the scenes can be read in his matchday programme column - The Bootroom.

ADAM ROSS - SPORTS THERAPIST

Adam RossNow in his fourth season working with the first team, Aylesbury-born Adam is a product of the medical department's highly-competitive mentoring scheme, which offers work placements to carefully-selected applicants aspiring to become medical professionals.

Having completed over 200 hours of work experience during the third year of his BSc Hons degree in Sports Therapy from the University of Hertfordshire, Adam was offered a full-time position at the end of the 2007/08 season. Adam is a Member of the Society of Sports Therapists.

Working under Paul Ince, Roberto Di Matteo and now Karl Robinson as part of Simon Crampton's medical department, Adam provides treatment and rehabilitation for injured players as well as aiding the recovery and well-being of the first team squad.

STUART METCALF - ANALYST

Stuart MetcalfStuart joined the Club in 2008/09 on an intern-basis for the First Team and quickly became an intricate part of the Sport Science department.

The following year Stuart took up a position as Academy Analyst which allowed his to provide matchday preparation and post-match analysis to Director of Youth Mike Dove, ultimately assisting the development of the young players at MK Dons.

This season Stuart moved to a permanent position with the First Team and has become an integral part to Karl and John's preparation for games. With a BA in Sports Management and Football Studies and Buckingham's New University and aMRes in Sports Science at Nottingham Trent, Stuart has great knowledge and enthusiasm for the game.

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