Notts County: Jodi Jones sends 4-word message to Dan Crowley after MK Dons switch | OneFootball

Notts County: Jodi Jones sends 4-word message to Dan Crowley after MK Dons switch

Dan Crowley took to Instagram late on Tuesday evening to confirm his shock intra-fourth-tier move from Notts County to promotion rivals MK Dons.

The 27-year-old midfielder, who began his career as a much fancied talent on the books of Arsenal, has been one of the biggest talents in League Two for the best part of 18 months.

However, with six-months left on his contract, and no indication of a renewal, it soon became evident that Coventry-born Crowley was on his way out.

The big surprise, however, is the rather than moving up a division as his recent performances suggest he is capable of, Crowley has opted for a sideways move that will, for now, take him five places further down the 92 than when he started.

Something of a metronomic figure in the heart of the Notts attack, leaving Meadow Lane at such a crucial stage in the season could easily derail Stuart Maynard's promotion charge, but how do his former teammates feel about the move?

Jodi Jones wishes Dan Crowley well, despite disappointment

Upon his arrival at Stadium:MK, Dan Crowley took to Instagram on Tuesday evening to formally announce himself as a Dons player.

Ensuring to thank both his religion and his agents, Crowley posed with a wry smile, holding aloft his new home strip.

Unsurprisingly, the depths of the comment section contained a degree of anger from Magpies supporters, but a man who knows Crowley all too well, had nothing but well-wishes for the 27-year-old.

Having lined up in Notts County colours over 50 times, Jodi Jones and Dan Crowley were a formidable duo at Meadow Lane. Regularly combining in the attack, the two boast an impressive joint-goal-participation of nine, the highest by far in Crowley's career.

Showing a mixture of disappointment and brotherly encouragement, Jones commented "All the best brother 😢🤍", succinctly marking the end of an iconic EFL partnership.

Many Notts County supporters will feel that they have lost their star man in Crowley. However, with Jodi Jones still in the picture, that statement is far from objective.

In a period largely coinciding with Crowley's short tenure, Malta international Jodi Jones has been nothing short of incredible for the Nottinghamshire side, when fit.

The winger's 24 assists in 2023/24 remains an all-time record in English football, numbers that could have perhaps been replicated this term if not for a shin-injury that saw him miss 16 league fixtures between September and New Year's Day.

With two brief substitute appearances versus Walsall and Swindon Town, it appears Jones is back just in time for Stuart Maynard, who will need the Maltese maestro to revisit his best form if they are to continue fighting for promotion to League One.

Dan Crowley is a statement signing for new MK Dons ownership

The Dons' interest in Crowley began in August 2024, when a lucrative deal was proposed just one week after the Buckinghamshire club's change of ownership, an intended statement signing from the incoming Kuwaiti-consortium.

Failing to entice the former England U19 international in time for the summer window's closure, it appears the club have been waiting patiently for a chance to re-table a more irrefusable offer.

Ironically, Crowley scored and assisted against MK Dons as recently as last month, in a boxing-day battle between the world's oldest and youngest football clubs that would have no-doubt further piqued the interest of his suitors.

Currently sitting in 11th place, MK Dons are just six points behind both a play-off berth and Notts County. If Crowley continues his significant aptitude at this level, it could prove an exceedingly close run-in between the two clubs, who will now circumstantially see each other has heated rivals.