Mark Jackson appointed MK Dons Head Coach
Jackson's first training session will take place today ahead of the Boxing Day game
Milton Keynes Dons have appointed Mark Jackson as their new Head Coach, as fans take to social media to welcome him to the club.
How is Mark Jackson?
Jackson has spent the past seven months as a first-team coach with Leeds United, having previously held roles in the Academy and Under-23s at Elland Road.
Before moving to the coaching side, Jackson was a defender for Leeds, as well as Scunthorpe United, Huddersfield Town, and Barnsley.
Jackson said: "It is clear what the short-term targets are, and I will be emphasising that to the players, but I want to help build something special in long term as well, and I believe we have the togetherness and the people here to achieve that.
“The Club has a clear identity and it’s one that fits in with my idea of how the game should be played. There are certain areas where I think I can enhance that, through my experiences and knowledge, but, ultimately, we will look to play an attractive style of football, where we dominate the ball, play on the front foot, aggressively go after teams with how we press and influence our style on the opponent's game.
“Building relationships is also very important to me and that’s not just throughout the Club but with the supporters and the community as well. The fans are really important to Club and they are the ones who will always be here - I want to engage with them and the community and give my 100% commitment to helping us all build and move forward.”
When will he start?
Jackson's first training session will take place today (Friday 23rd) ahead of the Boxing Day clash against Forest Green Rovers at Stadium MK.
What has the club said?
Chairman Pete Winkelman said: “We are thrilled to capture the services of Mark Jackson and we are excited to see what the future brings with him at the helm.
“We wanted a Head Coach who could not only turn us around in the short term but could take us forward in the long term and we firmly believe Mark has the experience and qualities, on and off the pitch, to do just that.”
Sporting Director Liam Sweeting added: “As well as a playing career to be proud of, Mark has achieved tremendous success at Leeds Utd, working across various age groups and playing a key role in the development of players.
"We now feel he is ready to step into a Head Coach role and have the opportunity to implement his own beliefs and way of working. Mark has jumped at this opportunity which shows the type of mentality he has and that we require. I am excited to be working with him and our immediate attention turns to improving our situation and making an impact in the upcoming January transfer window.”