MK Dons manager Paul Warne acknowledges the pressure of expectations as his team seeks back-to-back promotions. The club embarks on their return to League One for the first time since 2023 with an upcoming match against Oxford United, having finished as runners-up in League Two last season.

Even before the previous season concluded, MK Dons’ chief executive, Neil Hart, expressed that the club should “definitely” aim for a first return to the Championship, following their solitary season at that level which ended in relegation during the 2015-16 season.

“I do feel the pressure… I do like the pressure though,” Warne stated, sharing his experience of earning promotions to the second tier four times with Rotherham and Derby. “When we were at Rotherham we had to get out of League One every time and we did. When we were at Derby we had to get out of League One and we did.”

He added, “When we came here it was an intention to get the club in the Championship. We’ve done stage one; we have to go again. It’s another league, it’s a stronger League One than it was last year.”

In an interview with BBC Look East, Warne disclosed that MK Dons owner, Fahad Al Ghanim, has set an ambitious target of “92 points” for the season. “I’m not saying I think he’s unrealistic,” Warne commented, who was named MK boss in April 2025, “but I do think we’ve put together a side that should be in the top half of the league. However, 23 other managers would say the same thing.”

During the summer transfer window, MK Dons have welcomed six new players, including former Middlesbrough winger Sam Silvera and ex-Stevenage defender Charlie Goode.

MK Dons boss Paul Warne says “there is definitely pressure, but it’s a good thing” as his side target back-to-back promotions.

Warne’s side start life back in League One for the first time since 2023 with Saturday’s trip to Oxford United, having been runners-up in League Two last season.

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Before the previous campaign had even finished, MK’s chief executive Neil Hart stated that the club should “definitely” target a first return to the Championship since their solitary season at that level ended in relegation in 2015-16.

“I do feel the pressure… I do like the pressure though,” said Warne, who has won promotion to the second tier four times with Rotherham and Derby.

“When we were at Rotherham we had to get out of League One every time and we did. When we were at Derby we had to get out of League One and we did.

“When we came here it was an intention to get the club in the Championship.

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“We’ve done stage one, we have to go again. It’s another league, it’s a stronger League One than it was last year.”

Speaking to BBC Look East, Warne revealed that MK Dons owner Fahad Al Ghanim had told him he “wants 92 points” this season.

“I’m not saying I think he’s unrealistic,” said Warne, who was named MK boss in April 2025, “but I do think we’ve put together a side that should be in the top half of the league.

“However, 23 other managers would say the same thing.”

MK Dons have so far signed six players in the summer transfer window, including former Middlesbrough winger Sam Silvera and ex-Stevenage defender Charlie Goode.