MK Dons have announced a reshuffle of their coaching staff, with former players Darren Potter and Dean Lewington joining the set-up and former caretaker boss Ben Gladwin among the departures.
Potter will join the Dons’ set-up as a First Team Coach, while Lewington will be an Individual Development Coach as part of a Development Squad the club have set up for the 2025/26 season.
Meanwhile, Gladwin will be leaving MK Dons, along with fellow First Team Coach Jamie Day and Goalkeeper Coach Steve Hale.
The revisions at Stadium MK are part of the changes following the recent appointment of Paul Warne, who took over as the Dons’ Head Coach last month.
Confirmation of Lewington’s extended stay in Milton Keynes had come last Friday, during an event celebrating Lewington’s career at Stadium MK. The Dons’ captain is retiring from playing at the end of this season after a career that lasted for over 20 years and saw him make over 900 competitive appearances for the club.
Lewington’s role will see him overlook a new part of the Dons’ structure called the Development Squad. MK Dons said the intent of this new innovation is that this will be mainly comprised of young talent, including first-year professionals, as well as Scholars, to develop young Dons in their transition to senior football.
MK Dons’ Sporting Director Liam Sweeting said Lewington represented an excellent option to have for the new role.
He said, “There are not many, if any, that can match Lewie’s playing experience and knowledge of the game over an outstanding 949 competitive career appearances. We have been so fortunate to lean on Dean’s wisdom on the pitch, but his new career path provides an excellent chance to pass on some of his experience to those aspiring to reach the senior level of football, and for Dean to enter the next chapter of his career as a coach.”
The Dons stated that Lewington’s role will see him support a group of young players to maximise their opportunities in a senior environment.
One of Lewington’s former teammates is set to return to MK in the form of Potter, who played for MK Dons between 2011 and 2017. The former midfielder joins after time as a youth team coach with Championship side Stoke City.
Potter told the official MK Dons website of his excitement to move to the club. He also said of his excitement to work alongside Warne, who managed him at Rotherham United, and with his assistant Richie Barker, who had previously been Karl Robinson’s assistant at MK Dons.
He said, “I’m absolutely delighted to be here! I’m quite familiar with the surroundings and the facilities already, which always helps. I just can’t wait to meet all the players in pre-season and get straight to work.
“I’ve played under Paul Warne before, and I loved my time working with him; he’s an excellent coach, and I’m thrilled to be working with him and Richie at Stadium MK. We’re all really looking forward to the future here.”
As for departures, one of those confirmed is Gladwin, who had managed 9 games for MK Dons as caretaker manager following the departure of Scott Lindsey in March.
Sweeting voiced his appreciation of Gladwin for taking up the stint at MK Dons at short notice.
He said, “I cannot express enough my thanks to Ben Gladwin this season. When we asked Ben to step up and lead the team, he showed remarkable leadership in what was a difficult moment for the group. His perseverance and calmness served us very well and helped secure two vital wins during his time in charge.
“Ben will undoubtedly be a top Head Coach in the very near future. The way he thinks about the game and the application of his knowledge has been very impressive, even in difficult moments.”
First Team coach Day and Goalkeeper coach Hale will also make their departures, with both having arrived as part of Lindsey’s coaching staff set-up in September and stayed on with Gladwin and then Warne.
Gulliver’s Land theme park in Milton Keynes will be holding a weekend in support of a local food bank later this month.
Visitors to the park will be asked to donate items of food to help people living in crisis over the park’s Food Bank Weekend, which takes place on May 17 and May 18.
Discounted ticket prices from £14 per person are available when visitors bring along a non-perishable item of food to donate. The theme park have advised its one for each person in a group.
The theme park in Milton Keynes will deliver the donated items to MK Food Bank, which provides short-term crisis support and care for families and individuals in living in Milton Keynes.
Examples of food that can be donated include tinned fruit, small jars of coffee, long life milk, tinned meat (hot and cold, such as stewed steak or Spam), tinned spaghetti and ravioli, cream crackers, juice cordials, tinned custard, jellies, Angel Delight desserts, and evaporated milk.
Sue Conway, resort director at Gulliver’s Land, said, “We are pleased to be able to support the fantastic work of the MK Food Bank, which was established in 2004 as a direct response to growing food poverty in the area. Sadly, it is as much of an issue today as it was two decades ago, which is a situation that we should all be working towards resolving. Based on past experience, we know that the families who visit Gulliver’s Land are keen to show their support too.”
The £14 ticket price for the Food Bank Weekend is reduced from the normal online advanced booking price of £25 (booked at least two days in advance), with free entry for children under 90cms in height.
All the usual rides, attractions, shows and activities will be on offer during Food Bank Weekend, including The Runaway Train, Jungle River Ride, Dragon Siege 360-degree pendulum, and the Grand Prix Racers rollercoaster.
Visitors can also look at Gulliver’s Dinosaur & Farm Park, which includes the Lost World dinosaur area and a farmyard with a host of animals to enjoy.
People can also turn their visit to Food Bank Weekend into an overnight stay at Gulliver’s Land, with a variety of family accommodation options available, including Princess Suites, JCB Suites, Dinosaur and Unicorn-themed lodges, Western Lodges and Woodland Lodges.
To book tickets for Food Bank Weekend, visit: www.gulliverslandresort.co.uk
To find out more about the work of MK Food Bank, visit: mkfoodbank.org.uk
The organisers of the MK Pride rally have announced Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle will be a performer at this year’s event.
Coyle will perform at the event in Campbell Park in Central Milton Keynes on 13 September 2025, with the organisers confirming the Northern Irish singer as a headline act.
The MK Pride event is free for all to attend, which saw over 16,000 people attend in 2024. It is organised by volunteers and is intended to run from 12pm to 10:30pm on the day in question.
Coyle earned a breakthrough in the formation of Girls Aloud, which she joined in the early 2000s when it was put together by ITV show PopStars. The girl group would enjoy success, releasing 5 albums as well as 12 singles that charted in the top 3 of the UK singles chart. The group also had a successful reunion tour last year, selling out arenas across the UK.
She has also released a solo album and an EP, and toured as a solo artist.
As part of their set-up, the Pride festival will include additional musical performers and a stand-up comedy tent. Further details of performers will be announced in due course.
Alongside the entertainment, the festival also features a Community Stage that will discuss LGBTQ+ issues and highlight stories from the community at large.
The organisers said, “This stage features prominent LGBTQ+ advocates and gives our sponsors and partners the opportunity to directly connect with festival-goers. Through Q&A panels, talks, and discussions, our sponsors and partners can share their work, values, and commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ community.”
MK Dons captain Dean Lewington has been honoured with the Freedom of the City of Milton Keynes by MK City Council.
At an event on Friday (09/05) to honour the 40-year-old after he announced his retirement from playing, Milton Keynes City Council announced he was receiving the award in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to both MK Dons and the greater Milton Keynes community.
The gesture sees Lewington become only the second individual person to receive the honour, which was previously bestowed upon England women’s football captain Leah Williamson in 2023.
Milton Keynes City Council added that they will announce the date of a special meeting to formally grant the award later this year.
Lewington played for MK Dons in every season since the club’s founding in 2004, having also been a part of the Wimbledon squad that first moved to the city in 2003. He made over 900 competitive appearances for the club in a career that includes three promotions, a league and cup double in 2007-08, victory in the EFL Trophy at Wembley in 2008, and playing in the famous 4–0 win over Manchester United in the League Cup in 2014.
In his time with the club, Lewington was also part of the squad that secured promotion to the Championship in 2015 and since 2021, he has stepped in as interim manager multiple times.
Upon his retirement, MK Dons confirmed during the celebration of Lewington event that he would be staying with the club as a coach in a development role.
Leader of Milton Keynes City Council Cllr Pete Marland said, “Dean Lewington’s loyalty to MK Dons and to Milton Keynes is truly remarkable. His commitment, leadership and contribution both on and off the pitch make him an outstanding ambassador for our city and it’s a real pleasure to be able to recognise his contributions with this honour.”
Cllr Jane Carr, Opposition Group Leader, added, “It is proper and fitting that Dean is being proposed for this award and I look forward to the Special Council Meeting to celebrate his achievements.”
Police are appealing for information as part of an investigation into the murder of Sabrina Brett in Milton Keynes in 1995.
Sabrina was just 17-years-old when she was tragically murdered. Her body was found in the Grand Union Canal at Three Locks, Stoke Hammond, by a member of the public on 11 May 1995.
A post mortem revealed that Sabrina had died a number of days before her body was found. She also had sustained injuries to her head, face and neck.
On the 30 year anniversary of the case, Thames Valley Police said that they were seeking further information to uncover the truth on what happened.
Head of Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Investigation Review Team, Principal Investigator Peter Beirne said, “It is now thirty years since the tragic death of Sabrina Brett.
“We know that in the months leading up to her murder, she was the subject of child sexual exploitation.
“On this, the anniversary of her death, I am appealing for help in identifying who was responsible for both her death and her exploitation.
“I would urge anyone that has information to please contact us, either by visiting your local police station, calling 101, or via our website, quoting crime reference number 1745 (6/5).
“In particular, I would like friends of Sabrina to contact us, so that we can build up a picture of her life, in the weeks leading up to her death.
“You can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
“A reward up to £20,000 has been offered by Crimestoppers for information given directly to the charity which leads directly to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Sabrina’s murder.”
Sabrina Brett’s brother Joseph added, “Sabrina was just 17 years old when she was brutally murdered and taken from us in the most horrific way back in 1995. She was so bright and cheeky and full of life. She had an infectious energy that could fill a room and light it up from corner to corner. She had the kindest of hearts and always put others first, and like any teenager, still figuring out who she was. Sabrina was a daughter, a sister, a young girl who never got the future she deserved.
“Sabrina had been exposed to things no child should ever have to face. Sabrina was a victim of sexual exploitation and heartbreakingly, taken advantage of at such a young age. She deserved care, not cruelty.
“Nearly 30 years have passed, and the person who did this to her has never been brought to justice. We can’t describe the pain of living all these years without answers.
“What is even more painful is knowing that our mum passed away recently, heartbroken, knowing that the person who killed Sabrina is still out there and walking free. She died carrying that grief and that grief weighed on her heart every single day of her life.
“We are speaking out now because someone out there knows something. Maybe you’ve held it in for years. Maybe you were afraid back then. But time has passed, and now is the time to do what’s right.
“Please — if you know anything, even the smallest detail, we’re begging you to come forward. Maybe you saw something, heard a name, heard a story, maybe you’ve carried a piece of this puzzle for years. It’s not too late. We’re pleading with you: please come forward.
“Please help us get justice for Sabrina and bring peace to our family. A very dangerous person, or people, are still on the loose and could commit further crimes against other women or girls if they are not caught.
“If you know anything at all, no matter how small it might seem, please come forward.
“Your courage could finally give Sabrina the justice she was denied.”
