Ahead of the release of the 2009/10 Football League fixture schedule next month, mkdons.com can bring Dons fans a list of provisional key dates for their diaries for the new season.

The new season will kick off on the second weekend in August, with the first games in the Championship, League 1 and League 2 coming on Saturday 8th. The Carling Cup will get underway just a few days later, with most first round ties scheduled for Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th.

For clubs in League 1 and League 2, the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, which the Dons won in 2008, kicks off at the end of the month.

The Christmas period, traditionally a busy part of the year, will see three fixtures in nine days for all Clubs, starting on 19th December, on to Boxing Day and through to a full fixture list on Bank Holiday Monday (28th December).

As with last season, there will be no fixtures on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, with the FA Cup taking its traditional slot on the first weekend in January (Saturday 2nd).

The end-of-season run-in has been altered somewhat to accommodate the demands of international players due to play in the 2010 World Cup. The Coca-Cola Championship, which has the highest proportion of international players, will finish its regular season a week before League 1 and League 2 (Saturday 2nd May). The Play-Off Finals have also been adjusted with international call-ups likely to take place on the Bank Holiday weekend.

Key Dates (all are subject to change)

Wed 17th June - 2009/10 fixtures released

Sat 8th Aug - 2009/10 season begins
w/c Mon 10th Aug - Carling Cup R1
w/c Mon 24th Aug - Carling Cup R2
w/c Mon 31st Aug - Johnstone's Paint Trophy R1

w/c Mon 21st Sep - Carling Cup R3

w/c Mon 5th Oct - Johnstone's Paint Trophy R2
w/c Mon 26th Oct - Carling Cup R4

w/c Mon 9th Nov - Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area QF
w/c Mon 30th Nov - Carling Cup R5

w/c Mon 14th Dec - Johnstone's Pain Trophy Area SF

w/c Mon 4th Jan - Carling Cup SF (leg 1)
w/c Mon 18th Jan - Carling Cup SF (leg 2)
w/c Mon 18th Jan - Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Final L1

w/c Mon 15th Feb - Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Final L2
Sun 28th Feb - Carling Cup Final (Wembley)

Sun 28th Mar - Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final (Wembley)

Sun 2nd May - Coca-Cola Championship final fixtures
Sat 8th May - Coca-Cola League 1/2 final fixtures
Sat 22nd May - Coca-Cola Championship Play-Off Final
Sat 29th May - Coca-Cola League 1 Play-Off Final
Sun 30th May - Coca-Cola League 2 Play-Off Final

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