Rob Edwards has said he’s “not stepping away” after a 1-0 defeat to Norwich which turned Kenilworth Road toxic.
It started with boos at the final whistle and ended with Luton fans in the Main Stand turning to CEO Gary Sweet and his board and demanding a change in manager.
Arguably, not since John Still took charge of his last game at Kenilworth Road has there been such anger at the end of a match that, here, was decided by a Marcelino Núñez strike.
That the Hatters dominated all but the early stages of the game and had the better chances, will barely register against the reaction from fans, many of whom have made their minds up about the man that led them to the Premier League, but are now two points from the Championship relegation zone after three straight defeats.
But Edwards said: “I don’t consider my future, I’m in the position where I’m not stepping away from this, I’m not walking away at all.
“It makes me want to work really hard and turn this around. As well as I want to do well for this football club, I’ve got a family to provide for, I want to work, I want to work hard as well to achieve something, so we’re in a difficult patch, we are but let’s work through it.”
Town were positive, if not fluid, and determined, though lacked final ball quality, but those positives were cast into insignificance by the emotions swirling in the stands.
The boos, in isolated pockets, had begun before the final whistle, while some home fans even joined with City chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning”, aimed at Edwards.
And as the manager did his customary lap around Kenilworth Road, where many had already departed, a significant portion of those that remained jeered, before their attention turned to Sweet and co. It went on for some time, as crowds of supporters stayed to voice their feelings.
On the reaction he faced, the manager said: “It’s difficult, of course it is. It’s not nice. I’m a human being so you go around and I’ve always had such a rapport with the supporters.
“I understand their frustration because of where we are and we’re losing games. I understand and I know what football’s about.
“It’s difficult but I’ll always go around and say ‘thank you’, but it’s difficult to say ‘thank you’ when you’re getting hammered, as well. It’s tough, but all we can do is keep working hard.”
Asked if he’s spoken to Sweet, Edwards said: “I haven’t yet, but we’ll see. I will speak to Gary, he’ll be in the office in a little bit.”
Before the game, the available evidence had been that Edwards would be given the January transfer window. Asked if that is still the situation, he said: “As far as I know, unless you know anything different? I can’t really comment on anything else. I obviously don’t make those kinds of decisions.
“For a long, long time, we’ve been great for each other, for the football club and obviously achieved some amazing successes here. It’s difficult right now, but all the conversations I’ve had with Gary and the board are about turning this around, supporting us in January, and turning this around.
“They won’t want the stadium like that at the end of the game, but we all understand why, because we lost.”
Indeed, home results had been keeping the proverbial wolf from the door versus Town’s away form. Nine straight losses on the road was always going to pile pressure on the Luton’s home form and here, at the end of a six-game unbeaten run, that boiled over.
It was made worse by teams around Town at the bottom of the Championship picking up points and the fact that Norwich had not won on the road in eight games, but these were only contributory factors. Performances and results have not been up to scratch.
Here, however, it would take a hard-hearted observer to conclude that Luton were not on top. City hardly threatened until Núñez wound up a strike and fired through a crowded penalty area to find the bottom corner.
Before that, the Hatters had hit the bar, through Tahith Chong, and Elijah Adebayo had two efforts saved by Angus Gunn.
Zack Nelson’s penalty claim turned, frustratingly, into a free-kick outside the box and substitute Cauley Woodrow, the hero in Edwards’ first-ever game in charge at Kenilworth Road, also against Norwich, saw a late effort clip the post.
Indeed, his introduction on 84 minutes – part of a quadruple substitution also sending on Victor Moses, Joe Taylor and Jacob Brown – was another bone of contention for fans who chanted “it’s a miracle” at the perceived lateness of the change, when Norwich had scored in the 73rd minute.
The final whistle scenes were in the post as soon as Kaminski’s netted bulged.
Edwards said: “I’m realistic. I know the situation. I don’t fear that (the sack). I just keep my head down, keep working hard and whatever will be, will be.”
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