Yahoo Sports Luton manager Edwards leaves after poor run
Luton Town manager Rob Edwards has left the club following four straight defeats in the Championship.
The 42-year-old was appointed in November 2022 and steered The Hatters to promotion back to the top flight for the first time in over 30 years in 2023 when they beat Coventry City on penalties at Wembley.
He remained at the helm despite relegation from the Premier League after just a single season, but a run of four straight defeats has left them 20th in the Championship.
Monday's 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers was their 10th in a row away from home and they are just two places and two points above the relegation places.
"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," the former Wales international said in a statement on the club website.
"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."
His assistants, Richie Kyle and Paul Trollope will be in charge of the team for Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie at Nottingham Forest, along with club legend and former boss Mick Harford.
"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," Edwards added.
Luton opportunity followed Watford exit
A former Aston Villa, Wolves and Blackpool defender, Edwards began his coaching career at AFC Telford and had a spell in charge of England's under-16 side before guiding Forest Green Rovers to promotion from League Two in May 2022.
That earned him a move to Watford, but his tenure at Vicarage Road lasted just 11 matches before his contract was terminated and they turned to the more experienced Slaven Bilic.
He only had to wait two months for a fresh opportunity when he was given the Luton job following Nathan Jones' departure for Southampton.
Disappointment followed success with last season's relegation from the top flight, during which captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest during a game against Bournemouth in December 2023.
But having been given a new four-year contract last summer, Edwards expressed confidence ahead of the current campaign that he had a squad capable of challenging for promotion again.
Their start was disrupted by injuries, but after only taking one point from their first four games, they managed back-to-back wins over Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday.
A 5-1 defeat at Middlesbrough on 9 November was their heaviest since losing back-to-back games by the same score against Manchester City and Brentford in the Premier League in April.
Struggles led to 'self doubt'
And Edwards - who won 32 of his 103 games in charge of Luton - subsequently admitted he had experienced self doubt as a result of their poor start to the campaign.
Asked about his position following the Middlesbrough game, he told BBC Three Counties Radio: "Whatever will be, will be, I'm not in control of that stuff. I love this football club, it's been one hell of a ride and we've achieved things probably non-one thought was possible.
"If that is it, we can hold our heads high, we've given everything - if it's not, then we continue to fight. The football club always comes first. I'm a big man and know how the game works. I've tried my best."
The board decided to stand by Edwards and although The Hatters won three of their next seven games, a 1-0 loss at Bristol City on Boxing Day began the run of defeats which brought his tenure to an end.
"Rob has given us some of our greatest days to celebrate as Hatters," chief executive Gary Sweet said.
"The play-off final at Wembley and our season in the Premier League will live with us forever and in doing so Rob has earned himself a legendary status.
"Results this season, especially away from home, have clearly not been acceptable and while we have supported Rob and his team in every possible way, we all felt that action was required to rectify this with 20 league matches still to play.
"It is typical of Rob's humility that he also recognised this himself and leaves not just as a former manager, but as a trusted friend who has left his mark on every player and member of staff."
Why have Luton lost their way this season?
With plans for a brand new stadium at Power Court moving forward, things are moving forward positively off the pitch at Luton, but it has been a different story as far as results are concerned.
The loss of Tom Lockyer, who was working his way towards a comeback before damaging ankle ligaments last month, was exacebated at the start of the season by a series of injuries in Luton's defence.
The club brought in a number of players over the summer, including former Cardiff centre-back Mark McGuinness, but in large part, the squad was the same as that which won promotion under Edwards two years ago.
The 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.
