# 2023–24 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season

The 2023–24 season is the 20th season in the history of Milton Keynes Dons and their first season back in League Two since the 2018–19 season following relegation from League One the previous season. The club will also compete in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.
The season covers the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.

## Managerial changes

After the departure of Mark Jackson following the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, the club appointed Graham Alexander as their new head coach. Alexander had most recently been the manager of Scottish Premiership side Motherwell.
On 16 October 2023, Alexander was sacked after a run of eight league games without a win, having taken charge of only sixteen games in all competitions since his appointment. The following day, the club named Mike Williamson as their new head coach. Williamson had most recently been the manager of National League side Gateshead.

## Current squad

    As of 23 March 2024
| No. | Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth (Age) | Previous club | Date signed | Fee | Contract end |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 31 | Ronnie Sandford | GK | | (2005-02-24) 24 February 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 1 July 2022 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 32 | Michael Kelly | GK | Leixlip | (1996-07-13) 13 July 1996 (age 28) | Carlisle United | 9 September 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 33 | Filip Marschall | GK | Cambridge | (2003-04-24) 24 April 2003 (age 21) | Aston Villa | 19 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | Cameron Norman | RB | Norwich | (1995-10-12) 12 October 1995 (age 29) | Newport County | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 3 | Dean Lewington (captain) | LB | Kingston upon Thames | (1984-05-18) 18 May 1984 (age 40) | Wimbledon | 1 July 2002 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 4 | Jack Tucker | CB | Whitstable | (1999-11-12) 12 November 1999 (age 25) | Gillingham | 1 July 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 5 | Warren O'Hora | CB | Dublin | (1999-04-19) 19 April 1999 (age 25) | Brighton & Hove Albion | 18 January 2021 | £200,000 | 30 June 2024 |
| 14 | Joe Tomlinson | LB | Swindon | (2000-06-09) 9 June 2000 (age 24) | Peterborough United | 1 September 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 21 | Daniel Harvie | LB | Glasgow | (1998-07-14) 14 July 1998 (age 26) | Ayr United | 27 July 2020 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 26 | Anthony Stewart | CB | Brixton | (1992-09-18) 18 September 1992 (age 32) | Aberdeen | 1 September 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 29 | Kyran Lofthouse | RB | Oxford | (2000-09-15) 15 September 2000 (age 24) | Barnsley | 9 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 6 | MJ Williams | DM | Bangor | (1995-11-06) 6 November 1995 (age 29) | Bolton Wanderers | 11 July 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 8 | Alex Gilbey (vice-captain) | AM | Dagenham | (1994-12-09) 9 December 1994 (age 30) | Charlton Athletic | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 11 | Jack Payne | AM | Tower Hamlets | (1994-10-25) 25 October 1994 (age 30) | Charlton Athletic | 30 August 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 17 | Ethan Robson | CM | Houghton-le-Spring | (1996-10-25) 25 October 1996 (age 28) | Blackpool | 1 July 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 19 | Brooklyn Ilunga | LM | Croydon | (2003-11-21) 21 November 2003 (age 21) | Academy | 1 July 2021 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 24 | Stephen Wearne | AM | Stockton-on-Tees | (2000-12-16) 16 December 2000 (age 24) | Gateshead | 6 January 2024 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2027 |
| 50 | Lewis Bate | CM | Sidcup | (2002-10-28) 28 October 2002 (age 22) | Leeds United | 19 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 9 | Ellis Harrison | CF | Newport | (1994-01-29) 29 January 1994 (age 30) | Port Vale | 1 September 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 18 | Max Dean | CF | Ormskirk | (2004-02-21) 21 February 2004 (age 20) | Leeds United | 19 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 22 | Emre Tezgel | CF | Burton upon Trent | (2005-09-19) 19 September 2005 (age 19) | Stoke City | 1 February 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 27 | Dan Kemp | RW | Sidcup | (1999-01-11) 11 January 1999 (age 26) | Leyton Orient | 31 January 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 30 | Matthew Dennis | CF | Hammersmith and Fulham | (2002-04-15) 15 April 2002 (age 22) | Norwich City | 1 July 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| Out on loan ||||||||||
| 1 | Craig MacGillivray | GK | Perth | (1993-01-12) 12 January 1993 (age 32) | Burton Albion | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 7 | Jonathan Leko | RW | Kinshasa | (1999-04-24) 24 April 1999 (age 25) | Birmingham City | 13 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 10 | Mohamed Eisa | CF | Khartum | (1994-07-12) 12 July 1994 (age 30) | Peterborough United | 20 July 2021 | £1,250,000 | 30 June 2024 |
| 12 | Nathan Harness | GK | | (2000-01-19) 19 January 2000 (age 25) | Charlton Athletic | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 16 | Conor Grant | CM | Dublin | (2001-07-23) 23 July 2001 (age 23) | Rochdale | 1 July 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 20 | Darragh Burns | RM | Stamullen | (2002-08-06) 6 August 2002 (age 22) | St Patrick's Athletic | 4 July 2022 | £150,000 | 30 June 2024 |
| 23 | Joel Anker | AM | | (2004-10-11) 11 October 2004 (age 20) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 25 | Phoenix Scholtz | RB | | (2005-04-26) 26 April 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 4 August 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 28 | Dawson Devoy | AM | Ashbourne | (2001-11-20) 20 November 2001 (age 23) | Bohemian | 13 July 2022 | £100,000 | 30 June 2025 |
| 34 | Callum Tripp | CM | | (2006-08-28) 28 August 2006 (age 18) | Academy | 7 September 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 35 | Charlie Waller | CB | | (2005-03-11) 11 March 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Left club during season ||||||||||
| 15 | Tommy Smith | CB | Macclesfield | (1990-03-31) 31 March 1990 (age 34) | Colchester United | 28 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 22 | Ashley Hunter | LW | Derby | (1995-09-29) 29 September 1995 (age 29) | Morecambe | 4 August 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred from | Fee |
| 1 July 2023 | AM | Alex Gilbey | Charlton Athletic | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | GK | Nathan Harness | Charlton Athletic | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | GK | Craig MacGillivray | Burton Albion | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | RB | Cameron Norman | Newport County | Free Transfer |
| 12 July 2023 | DM | MJ Williams | Bolton Wanderers | Undisclosed |
| 28 July 2023 | CB | Tommy Smith | Colchester United | Free Transfer |
| 4 August 2023 | LW | Ashley Hunter | Morecambe | Free Transfer |
| 1 September 2023 | LB | Joe Tomlinson | Peterborough United | Undisclosed |
| 1 September 2023 | CF | Ellis Harrison | Port Vale | Undisclosed |
| 9 September 2023 | GK | Michael Kelly | Carlisle United | Free Transfer |
| 6 January 2024 | AM | Stephen Wearne | Gateshead | Undisclosed |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred to | Fee |
| 22 June 2023 | CF | Will Grigg | Chesterfield | Undisclosed |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Jack Davies | Banbury United | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Junior Gyamfi | Watford U21 | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Bradley Johnson | Derby County | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | LW | Lewis Johnson | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | LW | Sullay Kaikai | Cambridge United | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | David Martin | Southend United | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Josh McEachran | Oxford United | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | Franco Ravizzoli | Wycombe Wanderers | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | RB | Tennai Watson | Charlton Athletic | Released |
| 22 July 2023 | CB | Charlie Smith | Berkhamsted | Free Transfer |
| 28 July 2023 | CB | Zak Jules | Exeter City | Undisclosed |
| 5 August 2023 | DM | Matt Smith | St Johnstone | Undisclosed |
| 24 August 2023 | LW | Nathan Holland | Forest Green Rovers | Undisclosed |
| 26 January 2024 | LW | Ashley Hunter | AFC Fylde | Mutual Consent |
| 6 February 2024 | CB | Tommy Smith | Macarthur FC | Mutual Consent |

### Loaned in

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned from | Until |
| 30 August 2023 | AM | Jack Payne | Charlton Athletic | End of Season |
| 1 September 2023 | CB | Anthony Stewart | Aberdeen | End of Season |
| 9 January 2024 | RB | Kyran Lofthouse | Barnsley | End of Season |
| 19 January 2024 | GK | Filip Marschall | Aston Villa | End of Season |
| 19 January 2024 | CM | Lewis Bate | Leeds United | End of Season |
| 1 February 2024 | CF | Emre Tezgel | Stoke City | End of Season |

### Loaned out

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned to | Until |
| 18 July 2023 | RW | Dan Kemp | Swindon Town | 1 January 2024 |
| 12 August 2023 | GK | Ronnie Sandford | King's Lynn Town | September 2023 |
| 3 October 2023 | CB | Charlie Waller | Billericay Town | 31 October 2023 |
| 25 November 2023 | LM | Brooklyn Ilunga | Wealdstone | 28 January 2024 |
| 25 November 2023 | CB | Charlie Waller | Banbury United | 23 December 2023 |
| 8 December 2023 | RB | Phoenix Scholtz | Kettering Town | TBD |
| 15 December 2023 | AM | Joel Anker | Biggleswade Town | TBD |
| 2 January 2024 | RM | Darragh Burns | Shamrock Rovers | 1 November 2024 |
| 5 January 2024 | AM | Dawson Devoy | Swindon Town | End of Season |
| 18 January 2024 | GK | Craig MacGillivray | Stevenage | End of Season |
| 26 January 2024 | RW | Jonathan Leko | Burton Albion | End of Season |
| 30 January 2024 | CF | Mohamed Eisa | Exeter City | End of Season |
| 2 February 2024 | CM | Conor Grant | Barnsley | End of Season |
| 15 March 2024 | CM | Callum Tripp | St Albans City | End of Season |
| 22 March 2024 | AM | Joel Anker | Hitchin Town | TBD |
| 23 March 2024 | GK | Nathan Harness | Gateshead | End of Season |
* ↑ Kemp originally joined Swindon Town on a season-long loan, but was recalled by the club on 1 January 2024

## Pre-season and friendlies

The club's first pre-season friendly was announced on 1 June 2023, with an away fixture against National League side Wealdstone. A day later two more friendlies were announced, with the club facing both Coventry City and Northampton Town at Stadium MK. A fourth pre-season friendly was also announced on June 5, against Barnet.
The club also played a behind closed doors fixture whilst on a short training camp in Germany, playing newly promoted 2. Bundesliga team VfL Osnabrück.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

## Competitions
### Overall record

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| League Two | 5 August 2023 | 27 April 2024 | Matchday 1 | 4th | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 83 | 68 | +15 | 050.00 |
| FA Cup | 4 November 2023 | 4 November 2023 | First round | First round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 000.00 |
| EFL Cup | 8 August 2023 | 8 August 2023 | First round | First round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 000.00 |
| EFL Trophy | 29 August 2023 | 5 December 2023 | Group stage | Round of 32 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 075.00 |
| Play-offs | 7 May 2024 | 11 May 2024 | Semi final | Semi final | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 000.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 54 | 26 | 9 | 19 | 94 | 88 | +6 | 048.15 |
Last updated: 11 May 2024 Source: Soccerway

### EFL League Two
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Stockport County (C, P) | 46 | 27 | 11 | 8 | 96 | 48 | +48 | 92 | Promoted to EFL League One |
| 2 | Wrexham (P) | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 89 | 52 | +37 | 88 | Promoted to EFL League One |
| 3 | Mansfield Town (P) | 46 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 90 | 47 | +43 | 86 | Promoted to EFL League One |
| 4 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 83 | 68 | +15 | 78 | Qualified for League Two play-offs |
| 5 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 73 | 68 | +5 | 71 | Qualified for League Two play-offs |
| 6 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 69 | 65 | +4 | 71 | Qualified for League Two play-offs |
| 7 | Crawley Town (O, P) | 46 | 21 | 7 | 18 | 73 | 67 | +6 | 70 | Qualified for League Two play-offs |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 27 April 2024. Source: Soccerway

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 18$^1$ | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 27$^3$ | 35 | 36 | 21$^2$ | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H |
| Result | W | W | L | W | W | L | D | L | D | L | D | L | D | L | W | W | D | W | D | W | W | W | W | L | W | L | W | W | L | W | L | W | D | W | L | W | W | L | W | L | W | D | W | L | W | D |
| Position | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Points | 3 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 36 | 39 | 39 | 42 | 42 | 45 | 48 | 48 | 51 | 51 | 54 | 55 | 58 | 58 | 61 | 64 | 64 | 67 | 67 | 70 | 71 | 74 | 74 | 77 | 78 |
* $^1$ Matchday 18 (vs AFC Wimbledon) was postponed due to international call-ups.
* $^2$ Matchday 21 (vs Mansfield Town) was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
* $^3$ Matchday 27 (vs Wrexham) was postponed due to Wrexham's FA Cup involvement.

#### Matches

The league fixtures for the 2023–24 season were announced on 22 June 2023. The club's opening game of the season will be away to newly promoted Wrexham on 5 August 2023 with the final game of the season being at home to Sutton United on 27 April 2024.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

#### Play-offs

The club finished the regular season in fourth place in the league table and met Crawley Town, the team that finished seventh, over two legs in the play-offs. The first leg took place at Broadfield Stadium with the second leg at Stadium MK.
The first leg was due to take place on 6 May, but was postponed until the following day due to a waterlogged pitch. As a result the second leg, originally scheduled for 9 May, was rescheduled to 11 May.

### FA Cup

In the first round proper, the club were drawn away to Reading.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Cup

The club were drawn at home to Wycombe Wanderers in the first round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Trophy

In the group stage draw, MK Dons were drawn into Southern Group F alongside Northampton Town, Oxford United and Chelsea U21s.
After topping the group, the club were drawn at home to Brighton & Hove Albion U21s in the Round of 32 draw.

#### Group stage

| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L2 | Milton Keynes Dons | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 9 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L1 | Oxford United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | ACA | Chelsea U21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 2 | |
| 4 | L1 | Northampton Town | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 1 | |
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

#### Knockout stages
## Club statistics
### Goalscorers

    Correct as of match played on 11 May 2024
    Note: The list is sorted by surname when total goals are equal.
| Rank | No. | Pos. | Player | League Two | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Trophy | Play-offs | Total |
| 1 | 18 | FW | Max Dean | 15 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 19 |
| 2 | 8 | MF | Alex Gilbey | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 3 | 9 | FW | Ellis Harrison | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 4 | 11 | MF | Jack Payne | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | 14 | DF | Joe Tomlinson | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 6 | 30 | FW | Matthew Dennis | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | 10 | FW | Mohamed Eisa | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 8 | 7 | FW | Jonathan Leko | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | 22 | FW | Emre Tezgel | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | 24 | MF | Stephen Wearne | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | 21 | DF | Daniel Harvie | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | 27 | FW | Dan Kemp | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | 5 | DF | Warren O'Hora | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 14 | 20 | MF | Darragh Burns | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | 28 | MF | Dawson Devoy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | 29 | DF | Kyran Lofthouse | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | 35 | DF | Charlie Waller | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | 6 | MF | MJ Williams | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 83 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 94 |

### Home attendances

    Correct as of match played on 11 May 2024
    Note: The list omits the FA Cup as the club did not play a home match in the competition.
| Competition | Total | Matches | Highest | Lowest | Average |
| League Two | 157,673 | 23 | 11,282 | 4,962 | 6,855 |
| EFL Cup | 2,946 | 1 | 2,946 | 2,946 | 2,946 |
| EFL Trophy | 4,141 | 3 | 1,704 | 789 | 1,380 |
| Play-offs | 10,053 | 1 | 10,053 | 10,053 | 10,053 |
| Totals | 174,813 | 28 | | | 6,243 |

### Awards

| Recipient | Award | Month |
| Graham Alexander | EFL League Two Manager of the Month | August |
| Max Dean | EFL Young Player of the Month | October |
| Mike Williamson | EFL League Two Manager of the Month | December |
| Dean Lewington | EFL League Two Player of the Month | December |
| Callum Tripp | EFL League Two Apprentice of the Season | n/a |
| Alex Gilbey | EFL League Two Goal of the Month | March |