Milton Keynes Dons FC Women have endured a tough season so far, both on and off-pitch.
The Buckingham side have only one once in nine Women’s National League South East matches this season, currently sitting 10th in the division, three points above the relegation zone.
This year, though, has been a period of great transition for the team.
In May 2025, MK Dons confirmed that the Women’s side was to no longer be ran and organised by the Sports and Education Charity Trust, but instead fully integrated into the main club structure.
They also now share the same ground as the mens’ team, playing all their home games at Stadium MK.
The move took place just weeks after the clubs’ relegation to the fourth tier, with the aim from chairman Fahad Al Ghanim to stop The Dons sinking even further down the pyramid and develop the sport for females in the local area.
Clearly requiring a large staff overhaul, Stephen Healy was hired as the team’s manager in July.
“I expected it to be tough!” said Healy
Previously working as a first-team coach in the WSL at West Ham United, Healy’s experience in top-flight football was needed in stabilising MK Dons to avoid back-to-back relegations.
“The board want us to maintain league status in the division this year.” said Healy.
“It’s not so intense yet – it’s a rebuild and a project.”
“The board understand the dynamics and the situation the club found themselves in, they’re on board with it.”
Healy is currently the only full-time employee in the team, relying on part-time staff and volunteers to help him complete day-to-day tasks in a timely manner.
“I have to make sure the buses are ordered, the kits have been washed, meet with the commercial staff to further investment.”
“It’s full on”
Women’s fourth tier football in England also face challenges their male counterparts have the luxury of avoiding, creating unwanted problems for Healy to fit around his packed schedule.
“The players are either students or they’ve got full time jobs.” said Healy
“We’ve got players that work all day then do a four-hour round trip to training, and we’re asking them to do that three times a week plus matches”
“It’s not ideal!”
Despite an expected strenuous campaign, Healy admits his and the board’s aim is to push for promotion within a few years, should they reach survival come May 2026.
“If we sit down and have this conversation in two years time, I might be under the pressure of promotion from the club.”
The ambition from the club isn’t hidden and is evident when observing the men’s team.
Stadium MK is the largest capacity ground in League Two with 30,500 seats, over 10,000 more than Notts County’s Meadow Lane.
They also signed 14 players for the first team in the summer, spending a reported £6.73 million, the most in the league by £1.6 million.
