Sean O: ‘MK Dons Are A Big Club’
Sean O’Hanlon’s shock departure to MK Dons was because he thinks the former Wimbledon F.C are ‘a big club in disguise’.
He believes the club can do ‘a Swansea’ and climb up the leagues with their new 30,000 seat stadium which will open in 2007.
O’Hanlon has now joined the most hated team in England and has left a bitter taste in the fans mouth’s and the mouth’s of the directors at Swindon Town Football Club.
Swindon Chief Executive has already said the club will fight for compensation although it has now been revealed that MK Dons have contacted Swindon with an offer of compensation.
Sean O’ Can be sure of a hostile reception when he returns to the County Ground this upcoming season.
O’Hanlon’s new club has had a highly controversial past. Many fans will never forgive Pete Winkleman for moving Wimbledon F.C 70 miles from it’s historical home to Milton Keynes.
To this day many fans boycott going to their clubs fixtures at the National Hockey Stadium in protest to franchise football.
This site is firmly against Franchise Football and us at Swindon Town face a situation that is similar. If we do not get a new stadium, we too could leave our historical home.
Below is some of MK Dons trouble’s gaining acceptance into the Football League Community.
Change of name
In June 2004, despite the Football Association’s ‘Independent Commission’ recommendations, Pete Winkelman announced that Wimbledon FC would change its name to Milton Keynes Dons FC, having previously promised fans a vote on the issue; the committee of the official supporters’ club had voted unanimously for the word ‘Wimbledon’ to be retained in the name.
Winkelman announced that he was including the word ‘Dons’ formally in the new title (and not just as a nickname) in recognition of the previous history of the club, but it was clear that he wanted to close that chapter. When the club formally emerged from administration under the new name and ownership on July 1, he also announced new team colours and a new badge, this time without any consultation. The badge bears the legend MMIV, signifying that MK Dons is a new club started in 2004. The domain name mkdons.com had been registered by Winkelman in 2000.
Supporters club recognition
On 5 June 2005, at the 2005 Fans Parliament, the MK Dons Supporters Club was again refused membership of the national Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF), by 98 votes to 44. However, an informal indication was given that the FSF might be less hostile (though not necessarily favourable) if two conditions were met �” although meeting them is not within the MK supporters’ power, they might be able to influence the Board:
* The history and honours of Wimbledon FC are returned to the community of Wimbledon and/or AFC Wimbledon (as per the amended motion2 approved by the Fans Parliament). This includes all honours won by the club before the 28th May 2002.
* The Football Association amend their rules to prohibit clubs being moved out of their natural Community.
Only one of the Football League’s six new rules would explicitly oppose similar relocation of another club.