Milton Keynes Dons have announced the appointment of Mark Jackson as the club's new Head Coach.

As Football League World exclusively revealed yesterday, the Leeds United first team coach had been offered the job at Stadium MK.

Jackson replaces Liam Manning, who was sacked earlier this month with the club in the relegation zone. Manning led the Dons to the play-off semi-finals last season, but the loss of a number of key players saw a decline in form which prompted the board into action.

Defender Dean Lewington has been in caretaker charge and he secured an impressive 2-0 win over promotion-chasing Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday to move the club up to 22nd in the table, three points from safety.

It is Jackson's first senior managerial post, but he has a growing reputation as a coach and enjoyed a successful spell as U23 coach at Elland Road before being promoted to the first team by Jesse Marsch, with the American describing Jackson as integral to the Whites' Premier League survival last campaign.

Jackson's first game in charge will be the crucial home clash against fellow strugglers Forest Green Rovers on Boxing Day and the 45-year-old says he is delighted to have been given the opportunity.

"I am extremely excited and proud to be named Head Coach of MK Dons. We have a busy few weeks ahead but it’s an opportunity I’m looking forward to and I’m ready for the challenge," Jackson told the club's official website.

"It is clear what the short-term targets are, and I will be emphasising that to the players, but I want to help build something special in long term as well, and I believe we have the togetherness and the people here to achieve that.

"The Club has a clear identity and it’s one that fits in with my idea of how the game should be played. There are certain areas where I think I can enhance that, through my experiences and knowledge, but, ultimately, we will look to play an attractive style of football, where we dominate the ball, play on the front foot, aggressively go after teams with how we press and influence our style on the opponent's game.

"Building relationships is also very important to me and that’s not just throughout the Club but with the supporters and the community as well. The fans are really important to Club and they are the ones who will always be here - I want to engage with them and the community and give my 100% commitment to helping us all build and move forward."

The verdict

This is an incredibly intriguing appointment by MK Dons.

Bringing in a manager with no previous managerial experience is incredibly risky, especially with the club in a relegation battle, but the same could have been said for Russell Martin and Manning previously.

He fits in with the club's model of recruiting young, up-and-coming coaches and judging by his comments, he and the club seem to share ideas on the style of play he wants to implement and a long-term plan for the future.

Jackson is clearly very well-regarded and Marsch's endorsement speaks volumes of his coaching potential.

It will be a tough challenge for Jackson to turn around the fortunes of an under-performing side, but the Dons have more than enough quality to stay in the division and he will be hoping that he can get the best out of his new squad.