'Edwards deserves a well-earned rest'

It is a mark of the man that Rob Edwards was so emotional following defeat to West Ham which effectively relegated the Hatters. He could not hide his disappointment nor did he want to.

To suggest he had let Luton fans down was a non-starter. It is the opposite. Edwards can hold his head high and look back with pride at what his team has achieved.

Luton spent approximately £25m in total on signings last summer. They signed a League One player, half a dozen from the Championship, some free agents and added them to the gang that got them out of the Championship which was in itself a huge achievement.

This mix of good, hungry, determined fighters have had to step up against the world’s best players. Across 37 Premier League matches, they have properly been in 33 of them and given tough games to top, top teams.

It was always going to be a case of would they be quite good enough and it has taken until the final Premier League game to find out the answer.

Edward has only been at the club 18 months but already he has hero status and rightly so. As a manager and with his coaches Richie Kyle, Paul Trollope, Kevin Pilkington, Alan McCormack and Kevin Foley they have proved to be a coaching unit unafraid to take risks and to play positively.

They gave us some wonderful moments against the big boys at Kenilworth Road and even in defeat away from home there were many, many highs.

As well as being an excellent boss, Edwards is a delightful human being. People always say to me, "He seems such a nice guy. Is he really like that?" Yes he is.

At pre-match news conferences he has been asked similar and sometimes silly questions (including by myself) which other managers would have scoffed at. But Edwards has never done that and instead has had a smile and received us with his warm, humble nature.

He has been stressed and tired at times - he has had a lot to deal with this season. So when the final whistle blows at Kenilworth Road on Sunday he really has earned and deserves a rest.

Next season roles will be reversed and his team will have the upper hand as far as quality is concerned over the majority of the other Championship teams.

Relax and enjoy a long holiday, Rob.

Listen to live commentary of Luton Town v Fulham on BBC Three Counties Radio from 16:00 BST on Sunday