Crowley goes to MK Dons

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

 

Dan Crowley has joined MK Dons for an undisclosed fee.

A statement from our board of directors reads: “Firstly, our thanks go to Dan for his excellent performances during his time at Meadow Lane.

“Having established himself as a key player for us, we were keen to agree a new long-term contract ahead of his current deal expiring this summer. Unfortunately, however, Dan’s expectations exceeded what we were prepared to offer.

“We nevertheless maintained a good relationship and rejected several substantial bids this month and last summer, with us prepared to retain Dan’s services up until the conclusion of his contract should our high valuation of him not be met in this transfer window.

"This latest offer, however, was acceptable to us and, with Dan informing us that he wanted the move to happen, we have sanctioned it.

“While Dan has certainly been an influential figure for us, following the exciting additions of Will Jarvis and Charlie Whitaker, as well as the return to fitness of Conor Grant and Curtis Edwards, we have many strong options in his area of the pitch and we’re very confident the squad can mount a strong challenge for promotion without 

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Very surprised at the move. Don't think it will work out as a good move but I might be wrong.

Why didn't he go to a league 1 or a Championship Club. He's good enough in my opinion.

Must be a good deal he's negotiated.

[DangerousSausage]

The line about his "expectations" says it all really. Very disappointing that he'd rather play for the franchise than fight for promotion with us, they've clearly offered him and Notts a lot of money.

On the club's part it's risky selling another player to a rival when he was under contract, it could easily come back to bite us. In his position we're now relying on two promising but as yet unproven young players and Curtis Edwards, who has spent months injured. On the other hand, it can't be good for the harmony of the team carrying a player who doesn't want to be here, however good he is.

[menzinho]

Gutted and disappointed, it’s a real shame how this has unfolded as we’ve strengthened MK massively and that’s a big no-no for me. Clearly they’ve spent silly money to get him so at least we are gaining something out of it.

No-one knows how much he (or his agent) pushed for the move but if he genuinely can’t see out 6 months more with us than it’s for the best he goes. He was hardly trapped here though, and that’s why I’m disappointed. Is 20 more games in a team where he gets a lot of freedom and that plays to his strengths really that awful? After this season he would’ve had the pick of League 1 clubs if he wanted to go. Notts have given him a massive platform to shine after his career tailed off. I find it a slight stain on his character that he couldn’t stick around. He’s gone there for the money which I get but also, Dan, you could’ve done so much better.

On a purely football basis, when you look at how we performed against MK, how can you say they are more likely to get promoted than us? I’ve got no issue when players like Ruben and Macca move up the leagues, they deserve and earnt that chance but to just bail half-way through the season to join a team in the same league, I don’t get it.

For one of Jarvis or Whitaker to step up and perform as well as Crowley is a big ask, there’s a touch more pressure on them now. I hope come the end of the season we can look back at this moment and it not be a defining one.

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

It’s football I’m afraid, we lost good players before and we will again, as far as I’m concerned he’s gone now, he’s no longer a Notts player so we move on. Time will tell whether it’s a good move for him or Notts or both.

[Piethagoram 𝕏 @piethagoram]

Rumours that EFL1 Mansfield and Charlton were very interested. Seems that Franchise FC have splashed serious cash just to get his signature.

Maybe lessons learnt from Ruben who wasn't the same player in his last months of his contract, like the aggressive tackling up field had gone.

This tweet sums it up:

 

[Piethagoram 𝕏 @piethagoram]

@piethagoram.bsky.social on Bluesky

BSKY.APP

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Some of his reported comments at Franchise FC leave a sour taste #Notts https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/football/mk-dons/long-term-target-crowley-joins-mk-dons-from-notts-county-4942963

 

[Piethagoram 𝕏 @piethagoram]

@notts-county-stats.bsky.social on Bluesky

BSKY.APP

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No doubting Crowley’s ability, probably one of the most technically gifted players in L2 & I’ll definitely miss watching him. Equally credit to the club that they’ve done what’s right for both #notts & the...

 

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Did Dan decide to leave because he saw that Notts are prepared to let go their best players for a price such as Macca, & Aaron instead of keeping players like them to build a side that could win a league?

Also, it certainly looks like Notts are not prepared to pay the high wages that a player like Crowley may have asked for, when Notts were hoping to extend his contract.

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

The clubs put on a bit of a bandage at the bottom, with the mention of Will Jarvis and Charlie Whitaker having signed. Yet it speaks more volumes by the inclusion of 'Dan’s expectations exceeded what we were prepared to offer'. Notts do have to handle these types of statements well, because we all know how some fans can react, but there's nothing within the statement or what has been published to give us any indication that it was our decision.

I'm very disappointed, but not with the club because we can only offer what is in our means.

This to me gives the impression that Dan Crowley's head has been turned by the interest in him, and whilst I am disappointed in him because it seems solely about money. I do understand that a player's career is limited, and therefore would want to maximise what they can earn. It doesn't sit all that well with me regardless of that, I also wonder how much Crowley's agent played a role in this?

Notts has done the right thing, whilst some fans will want us to throw money at our best players, this doesn't make the club sustainable and if anything can impact the club further when it comes to strengthening. It will be interesting, what with Aaron Nemane being booed, how those fans will react to Crowley's departure. I don't see the point, but in terms of behaviour it does lean into Crowley's absence at times having been somewhat close to the rumours circling at the time which I didn't believe about him wanting to move. It seems he has forced our decision, and that seems quite disrespectful. A player wanting to make a move before a new season is not the worst scenario.

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

I haven’t seen a statement from Crowley like you sometimes get from players when they leave, saying how they’ve enjoyed their stay, wishing the club well and thanking fans for their support. Perhaps I’ve missed it but if he hasn’t made a statement that says a lot to me about his personality, he’s obviously very self centred.

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I am very sceptical of most of what Dan says here:

It's very reminiscent of his arrival at Meadow Lane, but there are some comments which seem a little ungrateful for his time here. "exciting project", "can get to the top" - 'impressed with Scott Lindsey for what he did at Crawley'. MK Dons in the past have played good football, but it's been awhile since they have been a consistent team. Some players leave acknowledging their former club, but it seems the real Dan Crowley has an ego.

[Piethagoram 𝕏 @piethagoram]

DC "This great club" (MKD) 

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

He's a journeyman. Say no more.

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

3 hours ago, Piethagoram said:

DC "This great club" (MKD) 

Nothing great about MK Dons.

But new signings will say anything to win over the fans, the thing MK Don's fans need to consider here is what happens when he decides that MK Dons aren't big enough. Refuses their contracts and ends up leaving on a free? It wouldn't surprise me if this didn't happen. It's a shame really, as I would like to have wished him well but the vibe I get - I just don't care to be honest.

2 hours ago, Robbie said:

He's a journeyman. Day no more.

We have to use this to fuel our bid for promotion, I hope we don't get wrapped up with competition with MK Dons like we did with Wrexham. I would like us to view it, as a way to really drive us forward though. Dan Crowley has been a good player; there's no denying it.

Yes, he might have been inconsistent at times, but I am happier knowing players want to be here.

[Mapperley Pie]

 He said to the local MK rag 'he loves Notts but needs to look after his kids' futures'.

Thought he would have been a bit more loyal. Sadly money talks it appears but as someone said, why not wait until the end of the season when he would.have a lot more clubs interested in him?

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

Let’s face we all want the best for our family and kids and who wouldn’t move jobs if they were offered considerably more money?

The thing that narks me is his comments in various interviews, he’s barely mentioned Notts, as far as I know he hadn’t put any statement out thanking the club, his former colleagues, owners, manager or the fans for the support we’ve given him. It would have sat better with the fans if he’d done that consequently I don’t think he’ll get a good reception when he returns playing for MK Dons. I’d love to know the thoughts of the Notts players.

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

It's not so much the money, it's the way it's been conducted and how little respect he's shown the club. He's a journeyman as @Robbie said, so there's no validation in his comments about 'exciting project' because he said it was arriving at us.

His ego is coming through, which is my biggest problem.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]