Club chief wants to collaborate more with the city.
The man in charge of MK Dons FC has told local business leaders how he wants to collaborate with the city and its people to help the club ‘stand proud and be proactive’.
Neil Hart, who took over at the helm of the football club just six weeks ago, says he and his staff are focussed on teaming up with the city’s business community to find ways of working together towards a common goal.
He said that will mean actively getting the club involved with the population and hinted that residents and fans might see more of their favourite players off the pitch.
Speaking at this week’s ‘Meet of MK’ business gathering at the new Unity Place Sky Lounge in central Milton Keynes, Neil said that changes will be made quickly as the club and its associated businesses work with MK’s residents, industries and football fans.
“This is a big club and there’s lots to be done here,” he said to more than 100 delegates. “That’s what attracted me to the job. We have to get on and make changes and we have to move the business forward. There are 450 staff at Stadium MK across all the businesses. But we are one, we are in this together.
“My doors are open for business,” he added. “Our doors are open to work in collaboration with the people of MK, the people of this city. We are very focused on doing that.
Neil told the audience how when he agreed to join the club he came to the ground on a Saturday when the Dons were playing at home and was astonished by what he saw.
“I didn’t stay for the game because I was still with my previous club (Bolton Wanderers) and it wouldn’t be right. But I went out onto the retail park and I was having coffee and food with my family. It was maybe an hour before kick-off and you wouldn’t have known there was a game on in the stadium.
“There was no communication, no marketing and little advertising. So in that you are going to see improvements, including communication with the city and with the stakeholders.
“You are going to see a lot more of me and a lot more of the team out and about. We have our club. It belongs to this city. Let’s stand proud, let’s be positive and let’s be proactive.”
