With the departure of Rob Edwards, the question of who Luton’s next manager is prevalent. After a poor run of results and 10 straight away losses occurring, the decision was made before their FA Cup fixture against Nottingham Forest that Rob Edwards would be leaving. Taking over for a short term has been Paul Trollope and Richie Kyle with Mick Harford. Options are on the table with their openness of not excluding anyone who is currently managing a team, but they must act soon to avoid being in a relegation battle. Here are the top candidates for the job.
Steve Cooper
After being let go from Leicester City, Cooper has a decent amount of managing experience and would be a good fit to be Luton’s manager. He seemed to have a decent plan at Leicester before being unfairly let go to be replaced by the Dutchman, Ruud Van Nistelrooy. He prefers to dominate possession and perform attacking plays. Tactically, he favours the 4-2-3-1 formation, as displayed during his time at Leicester, and has also previously used the 3-5-2 formation. Losses occurred as Rob Edwards frequently relied on using wing backs, which did not work for the team. As he is currently out of work a big opportunity to sort out Luton’s issues could be attractive.
Sean Dyche
After just being sacked by Everton, Sean Dyche would be a solid manager to get in. He would dominate the championship and get results. With connections to Luton, playing for them on loan, he would be able to sort out the defence and get the club in a good position for promotion. He typically plays four at the back which would be good and is a pro at avoiding relegation. He is used to smaller budgets and squads, gaining experience during his time at Everton. During a few of his last games, he was able to draw with Chelsea, Arsenal, and Man City. Dyche is a good option and can manage teams well.
Matt Bloomfield
Matt Bloomfield is a risky option but could work out well. Currently managing Wycombe in League One, he and his team stand second with fifty-one points. Most similar to former manager Rob Edwards, he is young and inexperienced. In a recent article, Bloomfield stated that “I want my teams to play fast, convincing football, and not have possession for possession’s sake.” This could transform the team with a new energy at the club, but with the position that Luton is in, he might not be the solution. He has been quite loyal to the Wycombe Wanderers when looking at his playing career and it wouldn’t make sense for him to leave in his current position when he could possibly get promoted, for a team that might get relegated.
Right now, it would be best for Luton to appoint someone with decent experience and knowledge. Other options could be Gary O’Neil or Steve Schumacher, but hopefully, a decision quickly gets made or else the club could be facing back-to-back relegation.
Source:
Bloomfield, Craig. “Knowing what is expected – Coaches’ Voice.” Coaches Voice, 24 November 2024, https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/matt-bloomfield/. Accessed 13 January 2025.
