Luton Town

Luton Town parted company with manager Rob Edwards on Thursday after a run of four successive Championship defeat left them two points above the relegation zone.

Is it the right decision, or did the man who led the club to the Premier League deserve more time?

Hatters fans have been reacting the news and you can share your thoughts as well. Here are a selection of the messages from Luton supporters:

Braddy - Sad news, but inevitable unfortunately.

Town End Codger - How fickle is the role of a manager? From top dog to abandoned stray in such a short time. If the same parameters were applied to Cloughie and Fergie, football would have been much the poorer. I hope another door will open for him soon.

ClarkySparky - As a Luton fan hats off to Rob for an unbelievable job.

He leaves us in a much better position than when he joined.

Thank you for everything Rob.

My only grievance here is timing. Why on earth did we wait for Mark Robins to get a new job before announcing? Would have been an absolutely ideal candidate!

Jonno - Thanks for the good times, sorry for the bad ones.

Always a heroes welcome.

Steve Lambert - Always handled himself with great dignity and integrity.

Dealt with some bad stuff last season and didn't change. Respect.

Jim - Thanks Rob. Hope you get a rest and a better job soon.

Success has many parents. Failure typically has one.

It's right he's gone. He needs a break. But everyone involved in the senior teams is at fault for 2024. Board, staff, players. Unless they're all totally honest about what they have done wrong, and clear on how they'll put it right, no new manager will have success with us.

Image source, Rex Features

And here's the final part of Rob Edwards' statement...

"To the fans, my memories will be 3,000 of you at Stamford Bridge after the final whistle and a 3-0 defeat, singing and making the noise of 50,000 people. Your support meant the world to me. You were great.

"Thanks to those who have continued to support during more difficult times.

"The club is in great shape, financially, in a really strong position with an exciting new stadium on the horizon. I really hope I will be able to return as a fan.

"The biggest thank you goes to my family. They've lived through this rollercoaster with me, and I'm looking forward to spending some time with them before being ready to go again!

"Once again, it's been a privilege."

Image source, Rex Features

Here's some more from Rob Edwards' statement after he deparated Luton Town...

"I'm really proud of what we achieved, not only winning a play-off game which the club had struggled to do, but winning the final and gaining promotion to the Premier League at Wembley was the most amazing experience!

"I take with me some incredible memories, not just the victories against Watford or Sunderland in the semi-final, or Brighton, Newcastle, Palace or Everton. But the way we did it, how we played against Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Villa and Manchester United, we were brave and brilliant to watch, how the Kenny bounced and roared! That's what I'll remember.

"It wasn't always easy, we lived through the most difficult times. What happened at Bournemouth last December will always remain with me. How the medical team reacted along with the paramedics to save Tom was remarkable. Truly heroic, and once again I want to thank them. The most important thing is that Tom Lockyer is with us and has a great chance to play again. I love you mate!

"To the players, I say thank you. Thanks for always giving your best, thanks for keeping it fun and to those that were there, thanks for delivering in the biggest moment of our lives!"

Image source, Rex Features

Rob Edwards has released a statement in the past few minutes after he left Luton Town, thanking a number of people at the club.

"It's been a privilege to manage Luton Town Football Club, but now is the right time for me to move on, for the club and me.

"I would like to thank Gary Sweet and the board for giving me the opportunity and for their support. To all the amazing staff in the offices, at the stadium and at the training ground, thank you, you've been incredible and I will miss you," he said.

"Thank you to all the staff in the academy for their support and hard work. You're doing brilliant things, it's been a pleasure for me to have been able to give debuts to Joe, Zack and Josh. There are some really top young talent at the club.

"Thanks to Mick, Kev and Kev, Pilks, Jaz, Thommo, the analysts, the groundsmen, the medical team, the media team, Rob and the kitchen staff, Nicky Toone, Les - I'll miss our very early chats at the gate! Dan the man, our brilliant coach driver, keep the darts practice going!

"Richie and Paul, thank you both. I couldn't do it without you! You're both so special."

Luton Town are in advanced talks with Middlesbrough to sign winger Isaiah Jones, with the 25-year-old expected to cost around £5m. (Northern Echo, external)

Chesterfield are considering a move for Hatters striker Aribim Pepple following his loan spell with Southend United. (Derbyshire Times, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip here.

Image source, PA Media

Under-pressure Luton boss Rob Edwards said the "footballing gods are against us" as QPR consigned the Hatters to their 10th consecutive defeat on the road.

Morgan Fox's fortunate winner continued the Hoops' revival under Marti Cifuentes, as the midfielder deflected Ilias Chair's wayward shot into the net, while Luton have now lost four Championship games in a row.

The Rs were fortuitous with both goals in their 2-1 win, as Michael Frey's opener should have been penalised for handball.

"We've had some big chances ourselves, but it's another game sitting here saying the same sort of things," Edwards said after the game at Loftus Road.

"They got a really fortuitous goal. You're looking up to the heavens at that point. Every week on the road we seem to be getting hit and hit and hit.

"Things have gone against us recently. It just seems the footballing gods are against us.

"The results are not good enough. The players are giving everything, but we are in a results business."

Luton travel to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round on Saturday before their next Championship fixture is against Preston North End on 18 January.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Luton Town captain Ronnie Henry has returned to Kenilworth Road as part of the academy coaching group.

Henry, now 40, captained the Hatters to the Conference title in 2014 when they regained their place in the English Football League after five seasons away.

He played 87 games for the club in total before leaving for Stevenage, but will now assist with the under-21 and under-18 teams as a professional development phase assistant coach.

"I have great memories from my playing days, so I'm hoping for more now in a coaching role where I'll bring experience and knowledge to the young players," Henry said.

"Knowing the football club and being a previous captain helps, but I know it takes hard work, high standards and a desire and determination to succeed. But as well as aiming to help the players become better footballers, I'll be aiming to make them better human beings."

Image source, Getty Images

Luton Town boss Rob Edwards says a number of players could return from injury and suspension to make the squad for the trip to QPR on Monday night.

Alfie Doughty has been out for almost nine weeks since suffering an ankle injury, while Liam Walsh and Joe Johnson are available again having served suspensions.

Lamine Fanne could also be in contention to feature for the first time after signing from AIK in the summer and being loaned back until the end of the Swedish season in November.

The 20-year-old central midfielder took a break following the end of the Allsvenskan campaign before joining up with the Hatters' squad.

"We've got some people returning from injury, we've got some fresh faces coming in and we keep going," Edwards told BBC Three Counties Radio after the 1-0 defeat to Norwich on New Year's Day.

Luton are 20th in the Championship and have lost three on the bounce going into the clash at Loftus Road.

"I've got to keep working, keep grafting and keep my head down and keep believing in what we're doing", Edwards added.

"Because the performances, I don't believe are losing performances but we're finding a way to lose at the moment.

"But I understand, people aren't happy but the only thing we can do with that is work really hard to get the results and turn it around."

QPR go into their Monday night game at home to Luton four points ahead of the Hatters in the Championship table.

The Hoops are on a run of one defeat in 10 and are just four points away from the top half of the table, while Rob Edwards' side have lost four of their past five games and are only three points above the drop-zone, having played more games than some of the sides chasing them.

• Queens Park Rangers have lost only one of their past 15 home league games against Luton Town (W9 D5), though that sole defeat came in the most recent in December 2022, when they were beaten 3-0.

• Luton Town have won two of their past three league meetings with QPR (L1), as many victories over the Hoops as across their 25 prior games (D9 L14).

• Queens Park Rangers have won just one of their past six home league games played on a Monday (D1 L4), beating Derby County 1-0 in April 2022.

• Luton Town have lost each of their last nine away games, the longest ongoing losing streak on the road in England's top four tiers.

• Luton's most recent away game in London played on a Monday saw them beaten 7-0 by Fulham in May 2022, though the Hatters won their only game in the capital so far this season, 1-0 at Millwall.

Image source, PA Media

Rob Edwards insists he will not walk away from the Luton Town hot seat despite conceding there is justifiable anger from fans at the club's current form.

Defeat to Norwich City ramped up the pressure on Edwards with the club now just three points above the drop zone.

But Edwards says he is committed to turning the Hatters' fortunes around.

"I'm realistic and I know the situation, I don't fear that, I'm going to keep working hard and what will be will be," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"I'm not stepping away from this, I'm not walking away at all, it makes me want to turn things around. As much as I want things for this football club, I have a family to provide for, I want to work."

Edwards said he understood the anger of some fans and accepted they were within their rights to voice concern.

"It's always disappointing but I understand it. They could see we were pushing and stayed with the lads but when we're getting the results we are, I'm not surprised with the reaction at the end," he said.

"Some were applauding but some were angry too, football's a results business. We have got to find a way, it's OK to look at small margins but we have to be ruthless."

Image source, Rex Features

Luton Town defender Tom Holmes insists the Hatters must grab the chance to bounce back positively in their away game against QPR on Monday.

A third straight loss, at home to Norwich City on New Year's Day, loaded more pressure on manager Rob Edwards's shoulders.

But Holmes believes the confidence boost from what would be only a second win on the road this season could be key to turning around their season.

Speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio, Holmes said: "The message is keep believing in what we are doing at home. This is the first loss at home since October but it is one we have to put to bed quickly.

"We really need to nail away and QPR is a massive opportunity to do that. We just need one result to break that curse.

"From QPR there is a bit of a break and we'll definitely have a few more bodies around. There will be a freshness to us after this block of a few games coming thick and fast.

"It will be a good chance to regroup and get everyone out there."

Image source, Rex Features

There are no guarantees for Luton Town in the January transfer window, according to head coach Rob Edwards, as he looks to turn around their season.

The Hatters 2-1 loss at Swansea on Sunday was their ninth successive away defeat in the Championship and leaves them just four points clear of the relegation zone.

"It's horrible away from home; there's no hiding from that," Edwards told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"People probably don't want to hear a message from me, so I'm going to keep my head down, keep working hard and make sure we turn this around."

Edwards has confirmed Luton will look to strengthen their squad when the transfer window opens on Wednesday.

"There are no guarantees in January - it's difficult, so we will work hard on it, but we need people back, too.

"There are still four or five key ones missing, which doesn't help, but hopefully, we'll get one or two back and some additions in."

Luton start 2025 with a home game against Norwich City on New Year's Day.

Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

Image source, Rex Features

What do Luton need?

Where to start? A left wing-back is surely a priority. Alfie Doughty's injury has highlighted Luton's lack of left-footed defenders. Amari'i Bell is more of a centre-back these days (he's injured anyway) so Luton don't have another in the position.

Erik Pieters' arrival adds an extra body in defence, and is left-footed, but it feels like they still need more.

The Hatters are crying out for attacking match-winning players, another striker to back-up Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo and centre-halves with so many injuries.

What sort of business are they likely to do?

Hopefully quite a bit. It's much-needed. They are being linked with Republic of Congo international defender Christ Makosso. Midfielder Lamine Fanne signed in the summer from Swedish side AIK but will join up this month.

How successful have they been in recent January windows?

Japan international defender Daiki Hashioka was the only significant January signing last year.

Tom Holmes was signed and then loaned back to Reading. And that was when Luton were fighting Premier League relegation with money in the bank.

But the board said they wouldn't go mad as they have the new Powercourt Stadium to finance and focus on and that is the case again.

Are there likely to be any notable departures?

Despite a poor season so far, there have been a number of players who have struggled to feature, which must mean the club would be open to them leaving.

Long-serving midfielder Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu can hardly get a kick and attackers Cauley Woodrow and Jack Taylor have only really been used as late substitutes. Departures seem inevitable.

How key is the window?

It could be pretty significant. Luton will be facing a relegation battle if their home form lets them down as their away form is so dreadful.

If they do get sucked into it they will need a stronger squad than they have currently. A significant improvement is required in pretty much every area except goalkeeper.

Swansea City welcome Luton Town to south Wales on Sunday.

The points were split at Kenilworth Road earlier this month and both sides have had mixed results since then, with the Swans most recently turning up for a big win over QPR on Boxing Day to take hold of 10th in the table.

Meanwhile, the Hatters slipped to 18th after failing to find a way past Bristol City last time out.

• Swansea City are winless in their last five league games against Luton Town (D2 L3) since a 1-0 win in March 2021.

• Luton have won their last two away league matches against Swansea – indeed, they are looking to win three in a row for the first time.

• Swansea City have lost their final league game of the year in just one of the last seven years (W2 D4), losing 4-1 to Nottingham Forest in 2021.

• Luton Town lost their final league game last year against Chelsea in the Premier League, last suffering defeat in their final game in back-to-back years in 1988 and 1989, the latter of which was also against Chelsea.

• Luton have won their last four away league matches in Wales, their longest ever winning run in Wales in their Football League history.