After last week’s appointment as the Club’s First-Team Manager, Paul Tisdale is already looking ahead to helping MK Dons fulfil both their short and long-term ambitions.
Tisdale was appointed to the chief role at Stadium MK on Wednesday after leaving Exeter City, where he spent 12 years of his career and enjoyed plenty of success, most notably two promotions and four play-off finishes.
A former Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Year, Tisdale knows exactly what it takes to achieve promotion from the fourth tier of English football and believes re-installing a winning environment at the club is the first crucial step.
“It’s been a whirlwind week but I’m very, very excited about being here and the challenge ahead,” he told iFollow MK Dons in his first interview as MK Dons manager.
“Clearly the last few years have been disappointing on the pitch and although this isn’t something that Peter [Winkelman] has planned, it is the reality and we have to accept that.”
“The big picture is that although there is bags of potential here, there is still lots of building to do. This is a chance for a refresh on and off the pitch and an opportunity to develop and build the brand of MK Dons and I’d love to be a part of that.”
“As a manager looking to build a long term project, of course I’ll have an eye on the future with player development being key. However my main focus will always be the next football match.”
“My first task is the product of the team and the performances - there is no point having a great vision for the future and losing game after game.
“We’ve got a real challenge ahead of us because League Two football is a real mixture - we have to be versatile and robust and ready to take on anything. That’ll be my first target and my first challenge.”
“It’s something we have to address very quickly, as time is off the essence, but we’re not going to get it right overnight. There are going to be some decisions to be made but I don’t know yet all the decisions I need to make because how would I - I’ve only just arrived!
“We’ll come back for pre-season and see what this squad is capable off. Peter is very keen for me to adjust things and build a team that is competitive but that is going to be something that is going to happen over months, not over days.”
“What will get us moving forwards will be lots and lots of tiny, sensible decisions over a period of time, not the one magic decisions that’ll change everything. If there is one thing that made every team win then everyone would do it - it’s about a culture, it’s about an environment and it’s about creating something that people will have an affinity to and want to be a part of.
“That means every day making lots and lots of small sensible decisions and getting to know everyone, getting everyone excited about coming to work, enjoying their jobs, happy to sit alongside a colleague and a team mate, and over a period of time that’ll manifest itself with performance on the pitch.”
He concluded with a message to the fans: “I’d like to see as many fans as possible turn up [next season]. We want to entertain the people of Milton Keynes and to those who come along and watch us, we want to give you something to be proud of.
“Come and give us a chance, support your team and we’ll be giving it our very best.”
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Get behind Paul Tisdale and MK Dons in 2018/19 by signing up for a Season Ticket.
Adult Season Tickets are priced from £30.55 a month; over-65s from £19.64 a month and the newly-introduced under-25s category from £13.45 a month while under-18s are able to enjoy the full 2018/19 campaign from only £2.73 a month. Price based on one month's payment up front and the remaining cost spread over 10 months - click HERE for full prices!
To sign up for a Season Ticket, visit the Box Office at Stadium MK/kiosk at centre:mk or call 0333 200 5343. Click HERE to download the 2018/19 Season Ticket Application Form!
