Ex-Newcastle United defender leaves EFL club in bombshell managerial switch to League Two rivals

Former Newcastle United centre back Mike Williamson has left his role as head coach of MK Dons to replace Paul Simpson as manager of the club’s League Two rivals Carlisle United.

Williamson arrives at Brunton Park after the Cumbria-based outfit agreed to pay a release clause in the former defender’s contract in Buckinghamshire.

Carlisle United currently sit 22nd in League Two, having lost five of their opening six league games and are hoping that Williamson’s appointment can inspire an upturn in fortunes with games against Swindon Town and Grimsby on the horizon this month.

The 40-year-old returns to the north of England having spent five years as a player at Newcastle United after arriving in January 2010 under manager Chris Hughton during Mike Ashley’s tenure as owner.

Williamson formed part of the backline that clinched promotion back to the Premier League that same season and remained a regular first team fixture in Alan Pardew’s side as the Magpies secured a spot in the Europa League in 2012.

The reliable centre back, who was affectionately nickname ‘Iron Mike’ by supporters left Newcastle in 2015 shortly after a high-profile bust-up with John Carver, who publicly accused him of deliberately getting sent off in a 3-0 defeat to Leicester City.

In his later playing days, he had spells at Wolves and Oxford United before relocating back to the north east with Gateshead in 2018 and assumed the role of player- manager just six months later. Williamson was praised for his exciting brand of football at Gateshead and left the club sixth in the National League in October 2023 just months after winning promotion from the previous division.

The 40-year-old led MK Dons to fourth spot last term after picking up 10 wins from his opening 15 games. However, results began to drop off shortly after a dreadful 8-1 aggregate defeat to Crawley Town in the League Two play-off semi-final.

Williamson leaves MK Dons 20th in the table with just six points from their opening six matches. His last league game in charge ultimately proved to be a 3-0 loss away to local rivals AFC Wimbledon.