Town's newest recruit on promotion hopes
New signing Steve McNulty is hoping he will win the Blue Square Bet Premier title for a second successive season after his deadline day transfer from Fleetwood Town.
The 29-year-old skippered the Cod Army to a record breaking season last year which saw Micky Mellon's side notch over 100 points, and 100 goals to drive them into the Football League.
Having agreed a conditional 18-month deal, the Town's latest signing told Hatters Player he is desperate to add another promotion to his already impressive CV.
“Hopefully come the end of the season I'll be lifting the cup again,” said the Town's newest recruit on deadline day.
“The league is very tight this year, no-one has run away with it and if we put a good run of games together now we can win the league.
“I think there is eight matches this month so I will be happy to get involved and get in the mix. We just need to win our games in hand, go joint top and kick on from there.”
Having won two promotions in three seasons at Highbury, McNulty played 19 times this term for the Cod Army before he was frozen out of the side following Mellon's departure.
And while he was disappointed that new boss – and former Hatter Graham Alexander – left him out of the side, McNulty knows he stands a great chance of success at Kenilworth Road.
“It's a massive club,” he said. “I've played here three times and obviously its a hostile crowd, quite intimidating so I'm glad they're all on my side now.
“It was a no brainer, it's a massive club steeped in history and I've been keeping an eye on the cup run so, glad to be apart of that now.
“I've been asked about dropping out of the Football League before, but I'm dropping down to a massive league club so it was an easy decision to make. This club is rich in history so I didn't have to think twice about it.
“Circumstances change, though, and while I captained Fleetwood to two promotions, they've been a good club for me so for that I have to thank them. We move on and I'm a Luton Town player now.”
The Liverpool-born defensive general joined up with his new team-mates for training for the first time on Thursday and was impressed with the enthusiasm and talented in the squad.
“Training was great,” McNulty said beaming. “It was very lively, there are so many great players here at Luton so it was really good and lively, I really enjoyed it.
“They're all good lads, I've played against a few of them before and kicked them up in the air a bit so they're all good lads and full of banter.”
McNulty's Cod Army were comprehensively beaten by the Hatters on the final day of the season last campaign as the Hatters marched into the play-offs on a scintillating run of form following the appointment of Paul Buckle.
Like many, McNulty spoke of his surprise that the Hatters did not go onto win promotion last season - but has his eyes set firmly on grasping that trophy for his season successive season.
“Every time I've played them they looked a great team,” he said. “Every season of the Conference Luton are always up there as favourites. I'm surprised they are still in this league because they have had some great managers and some great teams, so hopefully Paul can put his finger on it this year and we will get promoted.
“I've always said there should be three up and three down because there are so many big clubs in the Conference - but we're looking forward to the chance and getting up there so I'm very confident of doing that.”
The 29-year-old has had an illustrious career so far but has grafted his way back into the Football League after being released from Anfield as a youngster.
“I was a trainee at Liverpool, I signed when I was eight and left when I was 21.
“I stopped playing for a year and then dropped into non-league and worked my way back up from there. I played for Vauxhall, then went to Barrow and Fleetwood signed me from there.”
And it's familiar territory for McNulty when his first trip as Luton player is to Barrow on Saturday.
“I went to one of their rivals, Fleetwood, so I'll know doubt be in for a warm reception!” he joked.
“I went there with Fleetwood last year and got battered 4-0. It's a really tough place to go. If the conditions are bad, its a long way to go. Not a lot of people like going there, the dressing rooms are very small but we have a lot of characters in this team so I'm confident we will over come it.”