Former Wolves, Newcastle United and Watford figure front-runner for League Two job

League Two outfit MK Dons are on the hunt for a new head coach after parting company with Graham Alexander.

The former Burnley and Preston North End legend was sacked after just 16 games in charge. The Dons - currently 16th in the league standings - drew 2-2 with Barrow after surrendering a two-goal lead in stoppage time.

Alexander had only been at stadium:mk for five months and now they’re searching for their third boss of the year. His departure may have only been announced this morning but already there is talk as to who could replace him.

One former Newcastle United, Wolves and Portsmouth defender is the front-runner for the job. Should he be successful it would be his first managerial role in the English Football League.

Mike Williamson, currently the manager of National League side Gateshead is the leading candidate for the role. The 39-year-old is the early favourite for the role according to BetVictor, who are offering 1/6 on him to become the next Dons manager.

He is by far the favouite for the post, but there is also Karl Robinson, Danny Cowley, Lee Bowyer and David Artell in the mix.

Gateshead are currently sixth and occupy a play-off spot 15 games into the National League campaign. Williamson has been at the hot seat of the Gateshead International Stadium since 2019 and has combined his playing career with his management duties.

Williamson has been a player for 22 years and mainly played for Wycombe Wanderers and Newcastle United. He has 475 career appearances to date and appeared more than 100 times in the Premier League.

He was at Wolves for a brief period in 2015 to 2017. Williamson joined on loan and had his loan extended but suffered an injury. Despite his injury, he joined for a reported £250,000 from Newcastle but was limited to just five more appearances and left in 2017 for Oxford United.

He made 14 appearances for the U’s in the 2017/18 campaign, before dropping down into non-league football for the first time in his career with Gateshead. Williamson had one season as a player-coach before taking the reigns in June 2019 and since then he has led the club to the National League North title, and has made them a sound outfit in the fifth tier of English football.