Luton Town have parted company with manager Matt Bloomfield after less than a year in charge at Kenilworth Road.
The 41-year-old arrived from Wycombe Wanderers in January but was unable to keep the Hatters in the Championship, with relegation confirmed on the final day of last season after a 5-3 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.
Expectations were high this term but Town have faltered, with performances and results from the opening 11 matches falling below those standards, and they have won just five times. The 2-0 defeat to nearest neighbours Stevenage on Saturday proved to be the final straw for fans as they chanting “you’re getting sacked in the morning” for the second time this term, having done so in last month’s 3-1 reverse at Lincoln.
Ten days ago, after that defeat at Sincil Bank, CEO Gary Sweet backed Bloomfield, though admitted he and the Hatters board were not afraid of making “tough decisions” and that they would part ways if results didn’t improve.
A short statement from the club this morning said: “Performances and results from the opening 11 matches of the current campaign in League One have fallen below the levels expected, and the Board of Directors has taken the difficult decision to relieve Matt, his assistant Richard Thomas, first team coach Lee Harrison and first team analyst Ben Cirne of their duties.”
Former Town midfielder Alex Lawless will step in on an interim basis, supported by Paul Benson, Kevin Foley and Kevin Pilkington. Their first assignment will be tomorrow’s Vertu Trophy tie away to Cambridge United.
With no league fixture until after the international break, the Hatters have two training weeks before returning to League One action, with the visit of Mansfield. A search for Bloomfield’s successor is already underway, led by a committee drawn from the club’s executive team, recruitment staff, football department and the board.
The club added it will not be making further comment at this stage.
View from the stands
The co-host of the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust Podcast, Kevin Harper, who was at the Stevenage game, said in their latest episode, published early this morning, that there was, “no future under this manager, with this fanbase,” after the reaction at the Lamex Stadium on Saturday.
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