Dons 'won't down tools' despite setbacks - Gladwin

Ben Gladwin previously played for Swindon, QPR, Blackburn, MK Dons and Crawley

Interim boss Ben Gladwin does not believe MK Dons players will "down tools" over the final weeks of the season amid the uncertainty surrounding the head coach position.

Gladwin has been in charge since Scott Lindsey was sacked on 2 March and they have won one game and lost twice since then, leaving them 18th in League Two.

"We are just trying to let the lads know it is really important for them and their careers, individually and collectively, moving forwards to next season to give everything at this moment in time - which they are," the 32-year-old told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"That gets chucked about quite often about downing tools, I don't think any professional footballer ever wants to do that.

"The players are incredible footballers but it's that level of setback, again and again and again - and trying to bring them to a place where they believe they can perform consistently well is a challenge.

"You see that throughout football and (other) sport, it's all about mentality. We try to give them positive messages but a lot's gone on and they feel it because they care a lot."

The Dons began the season with Mike Williamson in charge but he left for Carlisle United, leading to former Crawley boss Lindsey's appointment in September.

A run of 11 losses in 16 games from mid-December onwards led to him losing his job and the club are now seeking their fifth full-time manager since Liam Manning left towards the end of 2022.

Talks with candidates are taking place but Gladwin said he did not know how much longer he was likely to be in charge, with 10 games left to play this season.

Dons visit Cheltenham Town on Saturday, having lost 3-0 at Port Vale last weekend.

"I've had open dialogue with (sporting director) Liam (Sweeting), he's been brilliant with me," Gladwin said.

"They're interviewing people at the minute and that process will continue so my job is just to prepare the team for the matches and try to create a little bit more of a positive feeling around the place.

"We took the step (forward) against Morecambe, the performance looked and felt a bit better, and naturally you fall into the trap of (feeling) 'we've cracked it' and then football comes and slaps you round the face and says 'no, you haven't'.

"We just try to build continually, take steps forwards, and occasionally you're going to get stuck and sometimes you might go back a little bit, but we'll just keep our eyes on performance, energy and trying to win matches and see where it takes us."