Chairman Pete Winkelman's programme notes ahead of this afternoon's home opener...
"Good afternoon everyone.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank every single one of you for being here this afternoon. Despite all the disappointment and hurt in recent seasons, you have remained loyal and committed to your Football Club, with almost 5,000 of you signed up as Season Ticket holders and many more as Club Dons and Young Dons members. The majority of our Season Ticket holders have been with us for several years and have remained dedicated to the cause despite the two relegations, and that is why we introduced a Premier Members scheme this summer to acknowledge those who have remained stuck with Club through the past three seasons - or more - and will be here again in 2018/19 to get behind the team in the special way we do here at Stadium MK.
"We are so blessed to have the supporter-base we do here in Milton Keynes and we know the only way to truly show our appreciation is to get things right on the football pitch. I said in my programme notes ahead of the final home game of last season that we would approach our search for a new manager in a different manner to usual. That search led us to the appointment of the vastly experienced Paul Tisdale who, from day one, was our number one target. It took us some time to make the move happen but it was certainly worth the wait and I am very excited to be entering this new chapter in our history with Paul at the helm.
"Paul and his team’s number one priority has to be to stop this slide that we have been on for the last three years. I will admit that we have often lost sight of the here and now, while looking too much towards our ambitions and dreams, and therefore it’s important that our sole focus is on the team’s success in Sky Bet League Two. Only once we are back on the rise can we begin to look forward and start dreaming of fulfilling our ambitions and desires once again.
"We started the rebuilding process back in May by conducting a business-wide review of our operations as a Stadium MK group. That has led to a number of difficult decisions being made but all have been made in the interests of providing the football team with the best possible chance to be competitive this season, which has to be our priority as a Football Club.
"Paul has also addressed a number of areas of the first-team squad, bolstering the team with new additions and new staff, and it was great to get off to a winning start last weekend away at Oldham Athletic. It was a battling performance against a tough opponent but we came through with all three points and that sets us up well heading into today’s home opener against Bury.
"So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you once again for being here this afternoon. My main message to you is, from today, let’s not look back in anger, but instead look forward and give Tis and his team the best possible environment to be successful. There are sure to be ups and downs as we make our way through the next nine months but I know that you will be with us every step of the way. We, as a Football Club, will give everything we’ve got to bring the good times back to Milton Keynes."
