Rob Edwards is set to depart Luton Town by mutual consent, sources have exclusively informed Football League World.
The 42-year-old’s time at Kenilworth Road has been rocky in recent months, with the Hatters struggling to adjust to life back in the Championship after a brief stint in the Premier League.
Edwards may have taken the Bedfordshire outfit into the top flight of English football in 2023, and he was tasked with taking them back there during the current campaign.
However, Town find themselves languishing in 20th position in the Championship, losing their last four matches, and it has led to the club’s hierarchy deciding that it is the end of the road for Edwards, whose exit will be confirmed soon.
Rob Edwards set to depart Luton Town amid surprise relegation battle
Eyebrows were somewhat raised in November 2022 when Luton moved to appoint Edwards as their new manager to replace Southampton-bound Nathan Jones.
Having been sacked by Town’s bitter rivals Watford just a couple of months prior, Edwards’ stock was not as high as it was when he swapped Forest Green Rovers for Vicarage Road, but he soon proved that he was the right fit all along at Kenilworth Road.
Some six months after being appointed, Edwards guided Luton to a surprise Premier League promotion, and for the next year he fought valiantly to keep them in the top flight beyond just the one season – albeit ultimately failing in that goal.
Many expected Luton to be one of the Championship’s promotion contenders for the current season, but it has been an almighty struggle for Edwards and his staff, who have been instead looking over their shoulders instead of up the table.
With 15 league defeats to their name, Luton have lost the most matches in the Championship this season, including their previous four in a row, and that has led to the imminent announcement that Edwards has left the club.
Luton Town must get Rob Edwards successor right – but also strengthen squad in January
Some will no doubt be surprised that it has taken this long for Luton to part ways with Edwards, such is the managerial merry go round in football nowadays, but the Hatters hierarchy must now get the next appointment right.
Their Championship status is in severe danger, and the decision has to be made as to whether they go for a more short-term, experienced appointment or a more long-term fit in the mould of Edwards is selected.
What Luton also must do though is spend some money on new players, given the current crop haven’t pulled their weight in terms of results this season.
Aside from the arrival of Cardiff City centre-back Mark McGuinness, Luton didn’t invest heavily over the summer months, but they must now utilise some of their Premier League parachute payments to give Edwards’ successor the best possible chance of climbing the Championship table for the rest of the season.
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