Ahead of the start of the 2022-23 Sky Bet Championship season, we would like to confirm a change to the football management structure at Luton Town Football Club.
Since Nathan Jones returned to Kenilworth Road in May 2020, Mick Harford has been by his side as assistant-manager, apart from the spell last season when the Hatters legend took time away from the role to undergo radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer.
As part of the long-term plan for the management team, Mick has now returned to the chief recruitment officer role he originally returned to the Club for soon after Nathan’s appointment in January 2016.
“Throughout my time here Mick has had to step up and fill in a number of times, which is what he’s done as manager and assistant, but he expressed a desire to go back to what he joined the club for, and we were happy to allow him to do that,” said Nathan.
“That was always the plan and it was just picking the right time, and we felt that this was the right time to do that.
“Mick has guided the club through some wonderful occasions and some difficult times. We’re really proud of his work for the football club, and his strength to us has always been in helping to create the environment and the atmosphere with his presence and his character.
“None of that will change, as he will still be in at The Brache every day, passing on his knowledge and experience to the players, myself and the staff, but he’ll be getting out to more games elsewhere and giving us his value in that capacity.”
Replacing Mick as assistant-manager is Chris Cohen, who is coming up to the second anniversary of his arrival at the Club from Nottingham Forest as first-team coach.
“We have always earmarked Chris to step up from the moment he came in,” explains Nathan. “There was always the chance for progression and the more we’ve evolved and the closer we have worked together, the more autonomy and responsibility he has been given.
“Chris is key to how we work and key to what I do, because he’s a real trusted assistant. He has really stepped up with the way he conducts himself, the way he’s proved he is a valued member of our coaching staff and how he is really proactive, as all of our staff are.
“I’m so glad that he’s going to continue his stay with us and especially working as my closest ally, because we’ve had a lot of success since he came to the club.
“His work won’t change as in reality he’s been doing the role for a while, but he has earned the promotion and I’m delighted that we can make it official, with Mick continuing his great work on the recruitment side.”