CEO says going up is important for the club and the city.
MK Dons chief Neil Hart has made it clear again that promotion out of football’s League Two is the main objective for the club this season.
Speaking to Milton Keynes’ business community last night, the Dons CEO said that all eyes are on achieving a move upwards into League One for next year. And he believes that enough work has been done, and personnel put in place, to make that happen.
He told more than 200 delegates at last night’s Meet of MK business networking event, organised by MKFM, that the Dons have made a ‘steady’ start to this season’s campaign – the team currently lie in fourth place – but he wants more.
“Promotion full stop – that has to be our objective,” he told his audience last night. “We have had a steady start, but we always want more.
“I think we are in a prime position. We have had a big shift in terms of the management team and the backroom staff, and then the players, so that does take time to settle in.
“We’re a quarter into the season and now we are seeing the results of all that work coming. We have won four out of our last five games. Last Saturday’s defeat was disappointing, but we will bounce back.”
The Dons take a break from league action this weekend as they travel to Essex for an FA Cup first round tie against Colchester United.
“The FA Cup is exciting but the league has to be our priority,” said Neil. “And make no mistake, our objective this year is to get out of League Two and get into League One because that’s important for us, it’s important commercially, and it’s important for the city, driving the economy by getting up that pyramid.”
He said he believed that recent successes on the pitch and the work being carried out to improve further the experience for matchday fans at Stadium:MK, are all working to raise the club’s profile.
“It really does put a town or a city on the map and we are starting to have more of a presence,” he said. “I think people think of us as important. But doing the basics right is important too.
“The ticketing, the club store, the hospitality, the supporters: to me it’s obvious we have to lift our standards. I think we are moving towards that, and we are committed to taking that forward.
“We are going to be here a long time and deliver a really important club that everyone can get behind and be proud of.”
