Karl Robinson believes the signing of Nicky Maynard is yet more proof of the potential and ambition of his MK Dons side.
Maynard left Cardiff City in the summer, and had begun the summer training with Nottingham Forest. A move to the City Ground failed to materialise and he has spent the past two weeks with the Dons, and he has impressed sufficiently to earn a deal until the end of the season – a move which Robinson believes provides evidence of the ambition of the Championship club.
“I think the fans will be pleased that we can get players of his quality through the door – it shows again, as a football club, what we can achieve,” he told the official club website. “With Nicky we were firm from the word go with what we could offer and initially it was a shock for him and his people. They had to go away and think about it but I’m delighted he’s decided to sign.”
Having failed to progress through the youth ranks at Arsenal Maynard linked up with Crewe Alexandra, where 32 goals in 59 league matches earned him a £2million move to Bristol City in 2008. A successful four-year stint at Aston Gate led to a switch to West Ham United, but he spent just six months at the capital club before leaving for Cardiff City in a deal worth £2.75million.
Maynard spent three years under contract at the Welsh club, but the last six months of these were spent at Wigan Athletic were he scored four goals in 12 matches. He was then released from his contract with the Bluebirds at the end of last season, and he could well face his former employers when they travel to Stadium:MK for their Championship clash on Boxing Day.
