Exclusive: Enjoy this ‘incredible’ moment, urges Naismith ‘quietly confident’ of play-off success

Kal Naismith has urged fans to savour the “incredible” achievement of Luton reaching the Championship play-offs, before they start dreaming of the Premier League, but insists the Hatters are “quietly confident” of doing the job. 

The centre half has been named in the EA Sports FIFA’s EFL Team of the Season and last night scooped the Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season and Goal of the Season at the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust Awards, in a ceremony the celebrated an already remarkable campaign. 

They now stand potentially three games from a return to the top flight, 30 years since helping form the Premier League but getting relegated before a ball was kicked in the rebranded and renowned division. 

Huddersfield stand in their way of a Wembley showpiece which, for the winners, is the so-called most lucrative game in world club football. Last season, according to Deloitte Sports Business Group, it was said to be worth around £170million to victors Brentford in sponsorship and media agreements.

“Everyone wants to look ahead to the play-offs and ask if we can do it? Of course, that’s a question on everyone’s lips, but I think it’s important to recognise the achievement and how we’ll everyone’s done. Incredible,” said Naismith at the Supporters’ Trust Awards.  

“I just want all the fans to go and enjoy it now with their friends and family. Get together and enjoy this moment. 

“Recognise what the staff, the fans and the team have done together to get here, because it’s been incredible.”

Luton finished sixth in the Championship, a comfortable five points clear of the chasing pack, courtesy of a 1-0 win over Reading on Saturday earned by a sneak Harry Cornick goal that, had voting not closed, potentially could’ve challenged Naismith’s last-gasp winner against Bournemouth, which earned him the goal of the season award last night. 

With former Premier League clubs Huddersfield, Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest also in the play-offs, Town have been cast as the underdogs in the competition, but that’s not something that concerns Naismith or a Luton team that have been battling against the odds all season.

“It’s could inspire us on,” said Naismith, adding: “Against all odds, as the saying goes, but us, in the changing room, we’re quietly confident.

“It’s an amazing achievement to get where we are, but we’re an ambitious group, we don’t want to stop here, we’ll do absolutely everything this week to prepare the absolute best we can. And then, over the two ties, we’ll leave it all out there.”