The 2009-10 campaign delivered a season of unfulfilled promise for MK Dons, as the club ultimately finished a respectable, yet disappointing, 12th place in League One. Under the guidance of manager Paul Ince in his second spell, the team briefly reached the play-off positions on Boxing Day, before a dramatic mid-season slump and Ince's resignation in April saw their form collapse, resulting in a winless final 11 games. Leading the line throughout the turbulence was Welsh striker Jermaine Easter, whose prolific 19 goals earned him the club's top scorer award and proved decisive in securing their mid-table finish, alongside a decent run to the Football League Trophy Area Final.