Luton Town head coach Jack Wilshere has given a detailed account of how recruitment works at the club and the role he plays in signing players, amid criticism from fans about two years of perceived poor transfer dealings.
The Hatters are closing in on a third swoop this January transfer window, with rumours linking the club to Port Vale striker Devante Cole.
So far, Town have brought in Emilio Lawrence and Kasey Palmer on loan from Manchester City and Hull City, respectively. But 30 days into the transfer window, which shuts at 7pm on Monday evening, and Town have yet to sign anyone permanently, despite being light in attackers and still without a recognised right back, though Wilshere believes Isaiah Jones will be the solution to that defensive issue.
That is set against the backdrop of faltering away form, which on Tuesday saw them beaten 1-0 by ten-man Huddersfield in a performance where they managed just one shot on target. That was their third straight reverse on the road by that scoreline.
It dented Luton’s play-off hopes, leaving them six points off the pace. They have not won on their travels since early November and it has drawn stinging criticism from fans online for not securing reinforcements that can help their faltering ambitions.
Those frustrations stretch back to the January transfer window in 2024 when the Hatters only signed Daiki Hashioka for the first team, while Tom Holmes was loaned straight back to Reading, meaning they failed to bolster their squad in a bid to survive in the Premier League.
Back to back relegations have followed and now many fans fear that they’ll be mired in League One, while players signed in January last year – like Lasse Nordås and Milli Alli – and this summer – like Jerry Yates – have already left the club in loan exits, further highlighting the club’s recruitment issues.
After the Huddersfield defeat, Wilshere’s comments fuelled speculation online among supporters around his involved with transfers.
He said: “I have to have faith and trust in the powers above me that they’re doing the work and trust that if it is him that he’s going to be the right one, or whoever it might be. I’m not sure, but the recruitment team and everyone involved in that is working hard to try and improve us.”
But today Wilshere explained in more detailed how Luton’s recruitment is a lengthy process involving him, data, scouting and plenty of discussions with team headed up by player recruitment manager Yousuf Sajjad.
“WhatsApp is amazing. We’ve got group chat and there’s loads and loads of messages going in. I mean, constant contact, probably over 20 phone calls a day with the head of recruitment. With Gary [Sweet – CEO], I come over here and see him,” Wilshere said.
“It’s consuming but I think it has to be that way. We have to try and improve when we can, where we can. We’ve got an ambition to try and get out of this league and when you have that ambition and everyone’s aligned with that, we have to get the work done.”
He added: “We work together. I will come with some ideas. They will come with some ideas, we’ll sit down, we’ll watch the player. I’ll watch the player. I’ll get the coaches to watch the player. We’ll send our scouts to watch the player, some proper Luton people. Mick Harford goes out and watches, another scout called Mark Tracey, he’ll go out and watch and it’s a long process.”
After today’s departure of Yates on loan to Sheffield Wednesday, Wilshere said Town are trying to add more attacking options before the window shuts, but has ruled out rumours linking Luton with Burton forward Jake Beesley.
He said: “I think we are looking to improve in that area to have more variation in that area. I’m sure if any head coach or manager sat here, they would say the same thing that everyone is looking for a number nine.
“We are but we’re looking for the right one. I think that’s really important. We don’t want to be rushed into, taking a gamble where we don’t need to take a gamble.”
Wilshere stressed the importance of combining modern data with traditional scouting, with neither alone enough to make the final call.
“We use data,” he said, adding: “Data is very important I think, nowadays. In football, you have to. All the big clubs are using it. We use that really well in my opinion, which will come up with the list. But then, of course, you need eyes on, you need to watch them.
“You need to see certain things that data won’t show. So yeah, we work together on it, and, there’ll be a list for me, a list from recruitment, and then we’ll come together. We’ll meet, we’ll talk about it, we’ll see what deals are available. We’ll see if this club is going to let him out. Or maybe not. So we have to look at another one.”
Wilshere also explained that recruitment involves character assessment and isn’t just about on-field ability.
“It has to be clear. It has to be thorough. We have to go through character references as well. And, yeah, there’s a lot that goes into it and I’m across it as well as a recruitment team,” said the Town manager.
When pressed on whether he gets the final say on transfers, Wilshere said: “I don’t think that the club would sign a player that I said ‘no’ to.”
“But I also think if I came with a player and the club said ‘no’, then we wouldn’t sign him as well. And we have to be that way. We have to be joined up with our thinking from a football point of view, from a business point of view. and we are.
“We’ll have discussions about it. Sometimes heated discussions. Sometimes we agree on everything. And I think that’s the way it has to be when you’re looking to improve and add to what I believe is a high performing environment.
“You have to have challenge, you have to have tough conversations, you have to come up with ideas. You have to be told ‘no’. You have to then go back and forth. And that’s the way it works. Honestly, I’ve really enjoyed this process of working with the recruitment team of going through a January. it’s not done yet.
“People are telling me that the last few days [of the transfer window] are the busiest. So, you’ll probably see me next press conference with no hair and really black eyes, but I’ve enjoyed it.”
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