MK friendly called off

Portman Road will host Lazio in pre-season

The friendly was seen to be controversial in some supporters eyes but Magilton told the club site that it was for his own preperation reasons that he was calling the proposed July 12th friendly off: "Unfortunately the plan doesn't fit in with the plans Bryan Klug and myself are drawing up for the start of the season," he said.

The MK Dons were relegated from League One last season, despite a late run of results which nearly pulled off a 'great escape'. The game was due to take place at The Dons National Hockey Stadium but Magilton said: "I have my own ideas about the tempo of our pre-season and want to mix it up a bit."

Magilton and Klug are now reassesing the pre-season programme put in whilst under Joe Royle and considering any other alterations that they wish to make.

Amongst other original plans are a tour of Holland and Belgium followed by a plum home friendly against Italian giants Lazio, that was part of the deal that took goalkeeper Matteo Sereni to Rome.