Luton Town Football Club can confirm that Rob Edwards has left his role as manager by mutual agreement.
Rob was appointed in November 2022, and once the Championship had resumed following the break for the Qatar World Cup, together with assistants Richie Kyle and Paul Trollope, he took over a side sitting 10th, one point outside the play-offs.
The trio guided the Hatters to third place, including a first derby win in front of fans for 17 years, then a stunning play-off semi-final success over Sunderland before winning promotion to the Premier League with a penalty shoot-out victory over Coventry.
They gave a generation of Luton Town supporters the greatest day of their lives at Wembley on 27th May 2023, completing the final leg of the rise from non-league football to the top-flight, and every Hatter will remain eternally grateful for that entry to the Club’s history books.
On that day at the national stadium and then again four months into the Premier League campaign, at Bournemouth, Rob led with compassion and dignity in the wake of the two episodes which saw his captain, Tom Lockyer, collapse on a pitch with heart issues.
We could have not wished for a better man to understand what it takes to be manager of Luton Town, one who acted as an ambassador for the club and community in the glare of the world’s media spotlight.
We enjoyed the highs of Goodison Park and that maiden Premier League win, the demolition of Brighton under the Kenilworth Road lights and the part the Town played in the 4-4 classic at Newcastle after also taking a point, and so very nearly all three, off Liverpool as the battle against relegation went right to the final day.
The current campaign back in the Championship has clearly not progressed as anticipated, and after holding amicable talks following Monday’s defeat at QPR, the board and Rob have agreed to part with immediate effect.
While the process to appoint a new manager is already underway, Paul Trollope and Richie Kyle, aided by Mick Harford, will take charge of the squad for Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie at Nottingham Forest.
Town CEO Gary Sweet said: “As with all decisions to part company with a manager, this has been a tough decision to arrive at, together with Rob, who has conducted himself with great professionalism and dignity throughout his two years at the Club, and again this week as we have genuinely come to a mutual conclusion.
“Rob has given us some of our greatest days to celebrate as Hatters. Those two barnstorming derby victories at Kenilworth Road, the play-off final at Wembley and our season in the Premier League will live with us forever and in doing so Rob has earned himself a legendary status.
“Results this season, especially away from home, have clearly not been acceptable and while we have supported Rob and his team in every possible way, we all felt that action was required to rectify this with 20 league matches still to play.
“It is typical of Rob’s humility that he also recognised this himself and leaves not just as a former manager, but as a trusted friend who has left his mark on every player and member of staff.
“Rob and his family will always be welcome visitors to Kenilworth Road. The door is always open. On behalf of the board, I would like to give him our heartfelt thanks for two years of tireless work and so many memories, wishing him every success for his future career.”
