Mark Jackson: The new head coach of Leeds United's and first team has been appointed by MK Dons

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Mark Jackson, formerly of Leeds United, has been named the new manager of MK Dons.

The 45-year-old takes over for Liam Manning, who was fired from the squad at the bottom of League One on December 11.

On Boxing Day at home against Forest Green Rovers, his debut match as manager will take place. Peterborough United and the current league leaders Plymouth will then be his next stops.

"I am comfortable with the club's identity. They want to control the ball, and I can help them accomplish that while making it better, Jackson added.

On the field, we may start to advance if we can do the little things right.

Jackson, who monitored training on Friday, is MK Dons' fourth head coach to get his first senior club management position, after Karl Robinson (2010-2016), Dan Micciche (2018), and Russell Martin (2019-2021).

MK contract's duration hasn't been made public, though.

The former defender for Leeds and Scunthorpe United oversaw a number of youth teams at Elland Road before being elevated to first-team coach in March. On Tuesday, he saw the Dons lose to Leicester in the Carabao Cup.

Jesse Marsch, the head coach of Leeds, stated the following on Thursday: "Jacko has been a huge help to me ever since I first stepped foot inside the building.

After joining the Dons from Belgian club Lommel in the summer of 2021, Manning led them to a third-place finish and the League One play-offs the previous season. However, they were denied promotion after losing to Wycombe Wanderers over two legs.

After a number of subsequent departures, the team had to be rebuilt, and they were unable to score in each of their first three league losses.

They moved up to 13th in the standings at the end of August thanks to two victories in the following three, but they have remained in the relegation spots ever since a 2-1 loss at Shrewsbury on October 8.

Pete Winkelman, the club's owner, had pledged that the search for a new head coach, which was being spearheaded by sports director Liam Sweeting, would be "brave."

Winkelman stated to BBC Three Counties Radio that: "The process of replacing a manager is usually painful. Liam Manning and the things he accomplished last year have my utmost admiration.