MK Dons is delighted to announce the arrival of Neil MacFarlane as first-team coach.
The 39-year-old was at Stadium MK on Saturday to watch the success over AFC Wimbledon and has now officially begun working for the Club.
After a spell as assistant manager at Falkirk alongside Stevie Crawford, MacFarlane moved south to join Steven Pressley at Coventry City in the same role. A short spell as caretaker manager at the Ricoh Arena followed before he was reunited with Steven Pressley at Fleetwood Town.
As a player, he appeared for the likes of Heart of Midlothian, where he played alongside Robbie Neilson, while he helped Queen’s Park win the Scottish Football League Third Division in 2000 and was a part of the Queen of the South side that finished runners-up in the Scottish Cup in 2008.
Manager Robbie Neilson said: “Neil’s got really good experience of the league, having been at both Coventry and Fleetwood as assistant. I just felt I needed that experience, someone I could turn to regarding a number of things.
“Also, Stevie worked with him at Falkirk and I did for a little at Hearts at the start of my coaching career after playing in the same side with him.
“He’s a great character and he works hard – that’s what you need. He’ll be hands on, helping with training and taking certain aspects of it. He’ll be a positive addition.”
MacFarlane told mkdons.com: “I’m absolutely delighted. We’ve been talking about it for a week so it’s good to get started.
“I know the manager having played with him and then worked for a while when he was starting out in coaching, while I also worked with Stevie at Falkirk for a number of years. We all get on very well and hopefully that can help drive the Club forward.”
He added: “Stevie was Robbie’s assistant at Hearts and they did tremendously well together – I’m just looking to come in and offer my experience from my time in England. I’m looking forward to working hard as a group and trying to push the team up the table.”
After a spell as assistant manager at Falkirk alongside Stevie Crawford, MacFarlane moved south to join Steven Pressley at Coventry City in the same role. A short spell as caretaker manager at the Ricoh Arena followed before he was reunited with Steven Pressley at Fleetwood Town.
As a player, he appeared for the likes of Heart of Midlothian, where he played alongside Robbie Neilson, while he helped Queen’s Park win the Scottish Football League Third Division in 2000 and was a part of the Queen of the South side that finished runners-up in the Scottish Cup in 2008.
Manager Robbie Neilson said: “Neil’s got really good experience of the league, having been at both Coventry and Fleetwood as assistant. I just felt I needed that experience, someone I could turn to regarding a number of things.
“Also, Stevie worked with him at Falkirk and I did for a little at Hearts at the start of my coaching career after playing in the same side with him.
“He’s a great character and he works hard – that’s what you need. He’ll be hands on, helping with training and taking certain aspects of it. He’ll be a positive addition.”
MacFarlane told mkdons.com: “I’m absolutely delighted. We’ve been talking about it for a week so it’s good to get started.
“I know the manager having played with him and then worked for a while when he was starting out in coaching, while I also worked with Stevie at Falkirk for a number of years. We all get on very well and hopefully that can help drive the Club forward.”
He added: “Stevie was Robbie’s assistant at Hearts and they did tremendously well together – I’m just looking to come in and offer my experience from my time in England. I’m looking forward to working hard as a group and trying to push the team up the table.”
