MacKenzie Decision Explained

MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman, as he told The Milton Keynes Citizen, has moved to defend the decision to loan out Gary MacKenzie.

In a surprising move the Scottish defender was loaned out to Blackpool last week, however Winkelman feels this is a good move for all concerned: 'Although the move takes a good player away from us, we're still strong in that position. And it helps a former manager at this club, the man who brought us the current manager.

'Hopefully, it will be win-win and it will only improve the value of Gary MacKenzie, who is an MK Dons asset.

'This club deserves and wants to be in the Championship. We need to be there sustainably though, and with confidence in the team. We're putting our house in order so that we cannot just fight for promotion this year, but every year in whatever division we're in.

'We are always willing to explain what we do to our supporters. The Gary MacKenzie situation came from a club we've gotten to know quite well in the last month or so, and from a manager I have huge respect for.

'We contemplated whether we'd be able to do it. If you look at our team this season, Antony Kay and Shaun Williams have probably been the best players for us, playing at centre back while Gary has been out. But Gary is a Scottish international and I think playing in the Championship can only add to his value - of course he is still our player.'

Doesn't sound, too much, as if the defender is expected to return with this move a slightly "calculated one" in the hope that MacKenzie does the business for the Championship side and this ups his value in the summer and they sign him permanently?

To be fair you can see where Winkelman is coming from, and a sizable transfer fee would make a lot of difference to the League One side, and you just have to hope that it does turn out to be the "win-win" situation that the MK Dons chief hopes for.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.