 Ince has led the Dons to the top of League Two |
Following a troubled start to their new life, Milton Keynes Dons finally look to be a club going places.
During their messy and controversial change of identity from Wimbledon to Milton Keynes, the Dons received little sympathy on and off the pitch as they tumbled into the bottom division.
But since a complete makeover under the guidance of chairman and entrepreneur Pete Winkelman, they have come out the other side a dynamic new team, playing in a brand new stadium in front of booming crowds.
Last Sunday, more than 13,000 people saw the Dons secure a club record seventh straight win and a three-point lead at the top of League Two.
"Everyone is buzzing. We are only a few months into the season, but we would rather be here than anywhere else at the moment," said striker Leon Knight, whose two goals helped put Lincoln City to the sword.
It was Martin Allen who triggered the club's playing revival last season by guiding the Dons into the play-offs.
But following his ill-fated switch to Leicester City the managerial baton has been passed on to Paul Ince, who has driven the team on in a manner reminiscent of his playing days as England's midfield enforcer.
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"The chairman is ambitious and the team is ambitious, which is what you need, and in Paul Ince we have a manager who has done everything," Knight told BBC Sport.
"He has played in a different country and for different Premier League clubs and all those experiences come together.
"He has been managed by the best in Sir Alex Ferguson and you can see that.
"He has a class about him, which is different from any other manager in this league, or the league up and in the Championship as well.
"We don't want to let him down because we know he will not let us down and we have to make sure we produce week-in, week-out."
 Former Chelsea junior Knight has been back to his best under Ince |
Knight added: "He came in and wants things done his way.
"He has got a great staff around him and he knows what he wants. We get the right rest and the right training and it's working at the moment.
"Like any team, once things are going well you enjoy it. It seems a bit more relaxed at the training ground and we have a laugh.
"But when there's a job to be done and training to be done we do it, and that's being taken into games.
"Touch wood everyone stays fit and we can keep pushing and hopefully stop at the top until the end of the season, although there is a long way to go."
Ince cut his managerial teeth at the other end of the division last season with Macclesfield Town and brought defender Danny Swailes and Alan Navarro with him in the summer after he had guided Macc to safety.
Ince also signed goalkeeper Willy Gueret, striker Kevin Gallen, midfielder Mark Wright and veteran Scotland international Colin Cameron.
But much of the rest of the squad has stayed the same with Knight revelling under the new regime after a hit-and-miss start to his Dons career at the end of last season.
"I'm the happiest I've been probably since I was at Huddersfield," said the 25-year-old, who scored 17 goals in 37 games on loan with the Terriers before spells with Sheffield Wednesday, Brighton and Swansea.
| The top tier is not on yet and it's a hell of a stadium |
"There is a good atmosphere and a good set of youngsters and experienced pros, like there was at Huddersfield.
"There was a Manchester United connection there as well with Lou Macari and Joe Jordan and it's the same here.
"I grew up watching the gaffer and you can see that he is a winner, although when we win he makes sure we keep our feet on the ground."
Handling expectation could now be the key for the Dons, although Knight has no desire to quell the excitement evidently growing at stadium:mk.
"The top tier is not on yet and it's a hell of a stadium," he said.
"I hope I'm around and hopefully in the next league when it's finished and we're getting even bigger crowds. That will be quite an atmosphere."
The Dons certainly have come a long way.
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