Millions Spent, Questions Mounting: Is Paul Warne Really the Man for MK Dons?

Millions Spent, Questions Mounting: Is Paul Warne Really the Man for MK Dons?

When Paul Warne came in to fill the once again vacant managerial position at Milton Keynes Dons in April of this year, the Englishman became the fourth man to take the helm of the League Two outfit.

With interim coach Ben Gladwin driving the club down the table, Warne arrived at a side devoid of confidence, bereft of stability, and 19th in the table.

Hearing Paul Warne’s voice now is like when you hear the iPhone alarm noise out of context and it gives you that jolt of fear https://t.co/1JudIm1z8u

— Ryan O'Meara (@_omeara_r) August 8, 2025

As is customary when a new manager comes in, Warne oversaw a classic new manager bounce, managing to win or draw five of his first six games, picking up 10 points in the process. However, shortly after the start of the new season, Warne’s negative tactics saw form plummet, despite the arrival of the club's second most expensive signing in striker Aaron Collins for just under £1 million from Bolton.

After three wins in their first six games across all competitions, the Dons are now winless in five, with many now begging the million-dollar question: Is Paul Warne the right man to lead the club forward? The signs have been mixed under the Englishman, but after just four months, the signs suggest it is time for the club to change tack.

Paul Warne's reaction to today's game.#COYD pic.twitter.com/CoKjTSADoq

— Milton Keynes Dons (@MKDonsFC) September 20, 2025

Why Are Dons Fans Growing Impatient?

A manager with a good record of hauling teams into promotion battles being in charge of a club that expects to be in the promotion discussion this season, Paul Warne and MK Dons would appear to be a match made in heaven—however, so far this season, that has proved to be anything but the case.

With their league record perfectly balanced with three wins, draws, and losses apiece, Warne’s 4-3-3 setup has come under increasing scrutiny. Though on the surface it appears to be an attack formation, Warne’s preference for midfield stability over fluid attacking transitions has begun to frustrate many around the Stadium MK.

It’s genuinely comedy 😭 #mkdons #dons pic.twitter.com/iuNqgcXrzK

— joe (@upthedonsss) September 16, 2025

Just 19 total shots in their last three league games have seen them pick up one point from a possible nine, and their overly cautious, unadventurous approach has seen Warne come under fire.

It must be said that Warne does have some decent credentials - he took an inconsistent Derby County back to the Championship in 2023/24, managed to get Rotherham United promoted on three separate occasions (immediately following relegations), and he also has an EFL Trophy winner's medal to his name, having taken Rotherham to glory in 2021/22.

However, none of those promotions came hand in hand with a league title, showing that the one thing Warne lacks in the lower tiers is the ability to finish the season top of the pack.

DERBY FANS STORM FIELD after team win promotion to the Championship. 🐏

Two years after being hit by 21-point deduction & left starring into the abyss, Rams return to England's 2nd tier. It's manager Paul Warne's fourth promotion to the Championship. 👏pic.twitter.com/qDaYWDsvaW

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) April 27, 2024

However, these credentials were still enough to get Dons fans dreaming at the start of the season - with the manager spending £875,000 on Bolton striker Aaron Collins, accompanied by the savvy free signings of former Championship talent in Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Callum Paterson, competing in and around the play-off spots was the minimum pre-season expectation.

However, another factor that has riled up MK supporters is the perceived underperformance of their new signings: Will Collar, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Jon Mellish, and Collins in particular have all failed to impress this season, illustrating how talent from better leagues doesn’t always guarantee improved performance.

Problems Mounting?

To make matters worse, it was confirmed at the weekend that Collins would be out for at least the next two months thanks to a serious hamstring injury, leaving the striker spot up for grabs, but with no quality forward to come in and make it their own.

🏥 MK Dons forward Aaron Collins is set to miss 8 weeks due to a hamstring injury. #MkDons pic.twitter.com/rErVOkyDE2

— Dons Hub (@MkDonsHub04) September 20, 2025

At the moment, the battle is between Scott Hogan, Callum Paterson, and Jonathan Leko, with former Sheffield Wednesday forward Paterson the only one of the three to find the net this season.

And with problems already piling up on the pitch, pressure is growing on Warne off it - many are starting to realize that while he has an excellent record of leading clubs to promotion when they least expect it, his ability is not the same when brought to a club harboring promotion ambitions.

The expectations of both the board and the fan base appear to weigh heavily on the manager, and these expectations could possibly be the root cause of his perceived negative tactics.

Setting up not to lose rather than to chase a win (at which he has failed miserably), Warne appears to be more conscious of his job position than the club's position in the table, which is currently 14th. One assumes that if he is seen to be playing careful, sensible football that has a lower risk of backfiring in his face, the board may view him as a steady, if unspectacular, choice to bring stability to the club.

It’s so funny that MK Dons are still absolutely shite 💀💀

— ey up (@congolesedoctor) September 20, 2025

But in all honesty, for a club that was playing in the Championship nine years ago and hasn’t experienced promotion since the season before, Warne is not doing enough. Their current reality is too far removed from the clubs long-term expectations for anyone associated with the outfit to be pleased with their progress.

Founded just over 20 years ago, MK Dons had lofty ambitions when they first started out as a club in 2004, with Premier League football the ultimate end goal. Never lasting more than a season in the second tier, the Dons are still miles off the mark, and despite their manager’s impressive CV and big money signings, they look no closer this season than they were last.

With progress minimal, it could be time for the Dons to make yet another managerial change. They may have gotten through four different managers last season, but Warne looks no closer to bringing success than any of his predecessors, and unless things turn around quickly, the MK board will have no choice but to move on.