Luton Town want to make Wycombe Wanderers boss Matt Bloomfield their new manager and are close to making an appointment. (The Guardian), external
The Hatters are also set to battle Sheffield United for the £4m signing of midfielder Timothy Ouma from Swedish top flight side IF Elfsborg. (Football League World), external
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip here.
Image source, Rex FeaturesTrollope and Kyle were part of Rob Edwards' staff that guided Luton to Premier League promotion
Luton Town assistant managers Paul Trollope and Richie Kyle have both left the Championship strugglers.
The pair were in caretaker charge of Luton for the FA Cup defeat by Nottingham Forest on Saturday, having stepped up to the role following Rob Edwards' departure as boss.
Trollope and Kyle had moved to Kenilworth Road when Edwards was first given the job in November 2022, and Luton paid tribute to the departing pair for helping "mastermind" their promotion to the Premier League in 2023.
"Along with Rob, Paul and Richie have played a huge part in our recent success and they leave with our heartfelt thanks and respect for the job they have undertaken," said Luton chief executive Gary Sweet.
"That extends especially to the most recent period when they have acted with great dignity and professionalism in looking after the squad since last Thursday."
Analysts Joe Stephenson and Finley Taylor have also left Luton.
Image source, Getty ImagesLuton Town joint interim boss Paul Trollope says he's loved working for a "special" and "unique" club.
The 52-year-old took charge, along with Richie Kyle, for the 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round on Saturday following the departure of manager Rob Edwards.
"A lot of positives and a lot of pride to take from the performance after a difficult couple of days," Trollope told BBC Three Counties Radio after the game.
"(I'm) Proud of the players. I don't think they could have given any more."
Trollope said he has "no idea" how this week will pan out or if a new boss will be appointed before the Championship clash with Preston at the weekend.
"Our remit was the two days training and take the game [on Saturday], which we've done. It's been a long three days if I'm totally honest.
"(It's) Just massive mixed emotions. The adrenaline of a game and pride in the performance, disappointed in losing and that's not even going into the two days previous."
On whether he will be staying at the club, Trollope added: "I don't know. I've loved my time here, I've loved working with Rob.
"It's a special place, it's a special club, a unique club - and one that I've found a big connection to, so we will see what happens."
Stoke could lose loan striker Tom Cannon this week, if Leicester decide to recall him and send him elsewhere, with Sunderland, Luton, Sheffield United and Wednesday all monitoring the 22-year-old Republic of Ireland forward. (Leicester Mercury, external)
Hull City are set to beat Luton and Wrexham to the capture of Leeds forward Joe Gelhardt on loan for the rest of the season. (Football League World, external)
Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column.
BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton has made his predictions for all 32 FA Cup third round games and given his verdict on who will make it into round four.
For this week's matches he is up against actor and musician Billy Bob Thornton, who is a Liverpool fan.
Sutton's prediction: 1-0
When these two teams met in the Premier League in March it was a relegation six-pointer, but they have gone in totally different directions since.
Forest just keep on winning and it is incredible that they are being talked about now as being in the title race.
Their manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, will definitely tinker with his team because they play Premier League leaders Liverpool on Tuesday, but they should still have enough to get through.
Billy's prediction: 2-1
Image source, Getty ImagesLuton Town boss Rob Edwards left the club by mutual consent on Thursday, with the Bedfordshire side facing a second successive relegation battle.
His exit came after a run of four straight losses in the Championship that left them down in 20th place, just five points above bottom club Plymouth Argyle.
It has left bittersweet feelings among fans who saw the highs and lows of both promotion and relegation under the former Wales international.
While former midfielder Jobi McAnuff feels like the term "mutual" is not always accurate in the case of a departing manager, he does believe that saying goodbye to Edwards is one that truly does serve both parties.
"I think from Luton's perspective, it got to a point where they know they need to move on," McAnuff told the 72+ podcast.
"And for Rob - not to put words in other people's mouth - but I think, given his body language, it will be a relief to leave that particular environment and have an opportunity to step away and find himself again.
"Find that energy and that spark that clearly, from his demeanour, it feels like he's lost."
You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Huddersfield Town have agreed a permanent deal to sign Luton Town striker Joe Taylor having failed to get a move over the line in the summer. (Football Insider), external
Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column.
Image source, Getty ImagesNottingham Forest and Luton have been drawn together three times before in the FA Cup, the first of which saw the Reds win 2-1 in the 1959 final at Wembley.
Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor
Image source, Rex FeaturesFor the vast majority of Luton fans this will be a sad day indeed.
Rob Edwards gave them one of the best days in the club's history and then led with honour and dignity during some rough moments.
He took over with the club 10th in the Championship and guided them into the play-offs, culminating in the Wembley final win over Coventry and into the Premier League.
And that financial reward has helped towards the cost of the new stadium at Power Court.
The Hatters were relegated from the top-flight but not without a plucky fight and Edwards' handling of the Tom Lockyer cardiac arrest was above and beyond.
However, life in the Championship has been tough and uncomfortable for a number of reasons - 15 defeats already this season isn't good enough, especially when compared to the other two relegated sides who are second and third.
Ultimately, the manager takes the blame and so the man who will be remembered for that glorious moment at Wembley and getting Luton into the top flight for the first time in 31 years departs.
Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio Luton Town commentator
Image source, Getty ImagesFor the last few weeks it has felt like only a matter of time that Rob Edwards would leave, and more so after his emotional response to us on BBC Three Counties Radio after the defeat by Middlesbrough in November.
The credit for their promotion at Wembley and their battling, but ultimately failed, attempt to stay in the Premier League could only last so long and this season hasn't been good enough.
The board have given it as long as they could - probably longer, if we're honest - but four defeats over Christmas and New Year and the worsening of the away record to 10 successive losses could only mean one thing.
There will be memories to last a lifetime - the Wembley win has bankrolled a new stadium and the legacy of his two years in charge is enormous.
The search for a new manager is presumably well under way, but whoever it is has a tough act to follow.
Image source, Rex FeaturesThe Hatters have conceded 44 goals in the Championship - only bottom-of-the-table Plymouth have let in more.
During their 2022-23 promotion campaign, opposition teams only managed an average of 10.7 shots per game against them (not including play-off fixtures) - that total is 13.7 this season, suggesting that the pressing game has been less effective.
And they have conceded 34 goals from open play this term, compared to 24 in the the entire campaign when they were last in the Championship.
There have also been problems at the top end of the pitch where they have scored 27 goals in 26 games, the fifth lowest total in the division.
Captain Carlton Morris scored 20 times in 44 league appearances in 2022-23, a ratio of a goal every 2.2 games, but it is 3.2 this term for his seven in 23.
And although striker partner Elijah Adebayo's ratio is better than two seasons ago, 5.2 compared to 6.0, he has only found the net five times in 26 matches.
Luton's average shots on target per game is almost identical, 3.7 compared to 3.8 in 2022-23, but the goals per game rate has fallen from 1.2 to 1.04.
