Luton will wave goodbye to two long-serving players that were instrumental in the club’s rise up the Football League, with three others also being released, contract talks ongoing with Gabriel Osho and a new deal for keeper James Shea.
Dan Potts and Luke Berry both joined the club in League Two and have a combined 16 years of service to Town, including three promotions each.
Potts captained the side in the Championship play-off final last year, scoring a vital spot-kick in their penalty shoot-out success over Coventry which saw the club become the first to go from the non-league to the Premier League.
However, the 30-year-old defender suffered injury setbacks which meant he never got to play for Luton in the top-flight this season.
Luton manager Rob Edwards said: “Pottsy is an amazing person, just like Bez and Fred.
“Again, he came on in the play-off final and took a crucial penalty, and that’s just what he’s done for us while we’ve been here, never mind what he’s achieved with the club before we arrived.
“He’s suffered with injuries so it’s been difficult for him this season and just could not get his season going. But we’ll support him now and get him fit, if he wants that, and I’m sure he’s got a lot to offer another club going forward.
“But nine years’ service with one club is amazing, something for him to be really proud of. I just want to say thank you to Pottsy and good luck.”
Berry did make 18 appearances in the Premier League, bagging a memorable late equaliser Nottingham Forest in March to keep alive hopes of avoiding relegation, which was eventually confirmed in the final match of the season against Fulham last week.
That goal saw the midfielder become the first player to score for Luton in all four top divisions in England and he leaves Luton with a record of 26 goals from 184 appearances.
Luton boss Edwards said: “Bez is someone I have so much respect for. He hasn’t played as much as he’d have wanted to, and he wants to play football, we all know that. I can’t promise him that every single week.
“We’ve had some good, honest chats. I love him and want what’s best for him as well.
“He came on and scored a penalty in the play-off final, so we’ll always remember that, but he’s been brilliant this season when called upon and chipped in with important moments.
“Who will ever forget that late equaliser against Forest? And for him to have scored in every league is an incredible achievement.
“He’s a brilliant person and we think it’s the right decision for him and for us, going forward. So we thank him for everything he’s done for the club over seven years and wish him every success in the future.”
Also leaving Luton this summer will be Fred Onyedinma, Elliot Thorpe and Admiral Muskie, while goalkeeper Shea, who has also won three promotions with the Hatters and made his Premier League debut on the final day of the season, has had his contract extended for an eighth season.
Edwards said: “Sheasy is another brilliant person who sets an example to everyone with his work ethic and character.
“It’s important that we keep a core of people at the club who have experienced success and brought us to the level we are at, and he is one of those.
“After his injury a couple of years ago he has worked so hard to get fit and stay fit, and he’s pushed the other goalkeepers to maintain their levels every single day, so he deserves the opportunity to keep doing it into an eight season with the club, which again, is a fantastic achievement in modern football.”
Loan stars Issa Kabore and Albert Sambi Lokonga will return to parent clubs Manchester City and Arsenal respectively, while Allan Campbell, Ryan Giles, Tom Holmes, John McAtee, Aribim Pepple, Dion Pereira, Joe Taylor, Jack Walton and Louie Watson will all return from their loans away from the club.
In the Under-21 squad, extended terms have been accepted by Jack Bateson, Josh Odell-Bature, Jacob Pinnington and Dominic Dos Santos Martins, while Josh Allen, Tobias Braney, Oliver Camis, Archie Heron, Millar Matthews-Lewis and Ben Tompkins have been released.
From the Under-18s, two second-year scholars – Claude Kayibanda and Jack Lorentzen-Jones – have accepted their offers of professional contracts, while Tyrell Giwa’s scholarship has been extended for a third year.
Under-16s who have been offered first-year scholarships are Archie Shepherd, Benedict Benagr, Charlie Booth, Christian Chigozie, Harry Fox, Kyron Roberts-Edema, Leon Routh, Lucas Thomas and Samuel Hincapie Alfonso.
Leaving the academy at the end of their scholarships are Will Houghton, Max Scott and Marcus Warren.for their future careers.
