Midfielder Lewis Bate spent the second half of the season on loan at Milton Keynes Dons, helping Mike Williamson’s team finish in the League Two play-offs
Lewis Bate has penned a farewell message to Milton Keynes Dons supporters, apologising for their play-off exit at the hands of Crawley Town. The midfielder linked up with the League Two outfit during the January transfer window after spending the first half of the 2023/24 season with Leeds United’s Under-21s group.
The former Chelsea youngster quickly established himself as a first team regular for the Dons, amassing 22 appearances as they finished fourth in the table. Stockport County, Wrexham and Mansfield Town pipped Mike Williamson’s team to automatic promotion.
There will be no Wembley trip for the Dons this year as they were resoundingly beaten by Crawley in their play-off semi-final, losing 8-1 on aggregate over two legs. It was a disappointing end to Bate’s loan spell.
Bate posted on his X account: “Thank you to the players and staff @MKDonsFC for the past few months. Also to the fans thank you for welcoming me in from day 1. I apologise for how the play offs went for the team but I’m sure the club will be back soon!”
It remains unclear what the future holds for Bate. The 21-year-old, who spent last season out on loan at Oxford United, is out of contract at United this summer.
Bate is among a raft of loan players set to return to Elland Road from loan stints, including Ian Poveda, Cody Drameh, Luke Ayling and Sam Greenwood. Attacking midfielder Poveda and defender Ayling are attracting interest from elsewhere and are set to depart the West Yorkshire outfit at the end of their current deals.
It is widely expected that Bate will move on to pastures news but United, who face Norwich City in the second leg of their play-off semi-final on Thursday, have yet to publish their retained list.
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