The ex-Gateshead manager returns to the north after less than a year in Buckinghamshire with MK Dons.

Former Newcastle United centre-back Mike Williamson has left his position as head coach of MK Dons to succeed Paul Simpson as manager of League Two rivals Carlisle United.

Williamson joins Brunton Park after the Cumbrian side agreed to pay the release clause in the ex-defender’s contract with the Buckinghamshire club.

Carlisle United currently sit 22nd in League Two, having lost five of their opening six league fixtures. The club hopes that Williamson’s appointment will spark a turnaround in form, with upcoming matches against Swindon Town and Grimsby Town later this month.

The 40-year-old returns to the north of England, having spent five years as a player at Newcastle United. He signed for the club in January 2010 under manager Chris Hughton during Mike Ashley’s ownership.

Williamson was a key figure in the defence that secured promotion back to the Premier League that same season. He continued to be a regular under Alan Pardew as Newcastle United qualified for the Europa League in 2012.

The dependable centre-back, affectionately nicknamed ‘Iron Mike’ by fans, left Newcastle in 2015 following a well-publicised fallout with then-manager John Carver, who accused him of intentionally getting sent off during a 3-0 defeat to Leicester City.

In the latter stages of his playing career, Williamson had stints at Wolves and Oxford United before returning to the north-east to join Gateshead in 2018. Just six months later, he was appointed player-manager. Williamson was lauded for his exciting brand of football at Gateshead, and he left the club in October 2023, with them sitting sixth in the National League, just months after achieving promotion from the lower division.

The 40-year-old guided MK Dons to a fourth-place finish last season, recording 10 wins from his first 15 matches in charge. However, results began to decline after a disastrous 8-1 aggregate loss to Crawley Town in the League Two play-off semi-final.

Williamson departs MK Dons with the club 20th in the table, having collected just six points from their first six matches of the current campaign. His final league match as manager was a 3-0 defeat to local rivals AFC Wimbledon.