Milton Keynes Dons manager Russell Martin has shredded the misconception that players in the bottom two divisions of English football aren’t good enough to play flowing, passing football.

The former Norwich City defender has set about revolutionising his side’s style since taking over from Paul Tisdale in November 2019.

The club known by many as ‘franchise’ are now carving a new reputation as one of the best footballing sides outside the top two divisions of English football thanks to the vision of their manager.

Martin, 35, was warned when taking the job that the players may not be good enough to play the way he wanted but it was not a view he shared.

“It’s carved into the British psyche that if you’re playing outside the top two leagues that the players aren’t good enough,” he told The Athletic.

“I get told that all the time. I had it when I took the job (in November 2019). People I really respect including friends of mine were saying, ‘Russ, the players might not be good enough, maybe you better tone it down a bit’.

“But I want to stand on the sidelines and really enjoy watching my team play. I want my players to enjoy it too. In the lower leagues, there is so much fear about where the next contract is coming from, if they don’t do this or that then they’re out of the team. I try to give them as much belief and security as possible.”

Whatever he is doing it is working. His side are on a run of four straight wins in League One, a stretch that has seen them pull within four points of the play-offs.

Getting into the top six is a big ask but the club are building for the future and getting a good reputation for the style they display in the process. A recent goal in their 3-2 defeat at Gillingham saw a 56-pass move end in a goal – a new record for most passes completed in a goal-scoring move.

No one will be surprised, however, as MK Dons have completed over 19,000 passes in League One this season, the most in the division by some margin.

More importantly, players are enjoying playing under Martin and that can only help draw in more talent in the future. “This is the most I’ve enjoyed playing football for a long, long time,” said former Chelsea midfielder Josh McEachran. “A lot of people were saying, ‘League One, why are you going down to that level?’ But I’ve not been this happy playing football for years. I am so glad I came here.”

Even if the Buckinghamshire outfit fail to reach the play-offs this season, they are in good hands and while Russell Martin is in charge there is a sense that things can only get better.