List of Luton Town F.C. managers

Nathan Jones
Luton's current manager Nathan Jones, pictured in 2014, has been in charge since January 2016.

Luton Town Football Club is an English association football club, based in the town of Luton, Bedfordshire. The club was founded in 1885,[1] and competes in League Two during the 2016–17 season.

The playing staff were originally organised by a trainer, and chosen for matches by a committee made up of directors led by the club's secretary.[2] The club appointed an official manager for the first time in 1925. George Thompson took up the role in February, but left after eight months, "scalded by his experience".[3] Thompson was not replaced until 1927, when former player John McCartney took charge.[4] Harold Wightman worked during the early 1930s to build a team to challenge for promotion, but was sacked early on in the 1935–36 season. Without a manager, the team finished as runners-up in Division Three South, before topping the table in 1936–37 under Ned Liddell. Dally Duncan was appointed in 1947, and during his 11-year tenure he took Luton into the First Division for the first time.[5] After Duncan was sacked early in the 1958–59 season, the club's board of directors managed the team to the 1959 FA Cup Final.[6]

Poor spells under four managers resulted in relegation to the Fourth Division by 1965.[7] Allan Brown became manager in November 1966, and Luton won the division in 1967–68.[8] Brown moved on halfway through the next season, and Alec Stock continued the revival, winning promotion to Division Two in 1969–70.[9] Luton won another promotion in 1973–74 to return to the top division under Harry Haslam, but Haslam was unable to prevent relegation during the following season.[10] David Pleat became manager in 1978,[11] and built a team that took the 1981–82 Second Division championship. Though Pleat moved on in 1986, success continued—Luton finished seventh during 1986–87, and won the Football League Cup a year later under Ray Harford. Managed by Jimmy Ryan, the team avoided relegation in 1989–90, and repeated that feat during the following season. When Ryan was then sacked in favour of a return for Pleat,[11] Luton were relegated in 1991–92. Pleat left again in 1995, and a five-year spell under Lennie Lawrence then saw Luton drop to the third tier.[12] A disastrous 2000–01 season—in which three managers took the helm at the club—saw Luton fall into the bottom division of The Football League for the first time since 1968.[13][14][15][16][17]

Joe Kinnear took Luton back up at the first time of asking, but was sacked by the club's new owners following a takeover in May 2003.[18][19] Mike Newell was appointed as manager,[20] and his side became League One champions in 2004–05. Internal troubles at the club started to intensify during the summer of 2006, as the club's chairman was revealed by Newell to be making illegal payments to agents[21]—after writing a scathing letter to the board,[21] Newell was sacked in March 2007.[21][22] Kevin Blackwell was appointed in his stead,[23] but was also sacked less than a year later on 16 January 2008;[24] former player Mick Harford was made Luton Town's new manager the same day,[25] and he was unable to prevent the club's relegation in 2007–08. After being deducted a total of 30 points by The Football League and The Football Association for 2008–09,[26] Luton were relegated to the Conference Premier;[27] however, the club claimed a Football League Trophy victory during the same season.[28] After two months of the 2009–10 season, Harford left the club by mutual consent,[29] to be replaced a month later by Richard Money.[30] Money's assistant, Gary Brabin, replaced him in March 2011,[31] and managed the club until he was sacked a year later.[32] His replacement, Paul Buckle, took charge in April 2012,[33] and was himself replaced in February 2013 by John Still.[34] Still took Luton back into The Football League in his first full season as manager, breaking a number of club records in the process.[35] Still guided Luton to a comfortable finish in their first season back in League Two, but was sacked by the club in December 2015 following a poor run of form. He was replaced by Nathan Jones in January 2016, who took on his first ever managerial role.

Managers

All first-team matches in national or international competition are counted, except the abandoned 1939–40 Football League season and matches in wartime leagues and cups. Names of caretaker managers are supplied where known, and periods of caretaker-management are highlighted in italics. Win percentage is rounded to one decimal place. Statistics are correct as of 3 December 2016.[36][37]
Key

M: Matches played W: Matches won D: Matches drawn L: Matches lost

Name Nation From To M W D L Win % Honours and achievements Notes
Thompson, GeorgeGeorge Thompson  England 16 February 1925 26 October 1925 25 9 7 9 36.0
—
 [3][38][39]
none
—
 26 October 1925 14 September 1927 77 30 22 25 39.0
—
 [B][40]
McCartney, JohnJohn McCartney  Scotland 14 September 1927 21 December 1929 151 57 38 56 37.7
—
 [A][4][41][42]
Kay, GeorgeGeorge Kay  England 23 December 1929 13 May 1931 71 29 16 26 40.8
—
 [A][43][44]
Wightman, HaroldHarold Wightman  England 1 June 1931 9 October 1935 198 85 49 64 42.9
—
 [A][45][46]
none
—
 9 October 1935 13 August 1936 41 23 12 6 56.1 Football League Third Division South runners-up, 1935–36 [B][47][48]
Liddell, NedNed Liddell  England 13 August 1936 26 February 1938 79 42 11 26 53.2 Football League Third Division South champions, 1936–37 [49][50]
none
—
 26 February 1938 1 June 1938 12 3 5 4 25.0
—
 [B][51]
McBain, NeilNeil McBain  Scotland 1 June 1938 5 June 1939 43 22 6 15 51.2
—
 [52][53]
Martin, GeorgeGeorge Martin  Scotland 4 December 1944 24 May 1947 36 18 8 10 50.0
—
 [C][54][55]
none
—
 24 May 1947 13 June 1947 1 1 0 0 100.00
—
 [B][55]
Duncan, DallyDally Duncan  Scotland 13 June 1947 16 October 1958 503 192 133 178 38.2 Football League Second Division runners-up, 1954–55 [5][56][57]
none
—
 16 October 1958 27 April 1959 39 13 10 16 33.3
—
 [B][6][58]
Owen, SydSyd Owen  England 27 April 1959 16 April 1960 42 10 11 21 23.8 FA Cup runners-up, 1958–59 [7][59][60]
none
—
 16 April 1960 18 July 1960 3 1 1 1 33.3
—
 [B][60]
Bartram, SamSam Bartram  England 18 July 1960 14 June 1962 95 35 18 42 36.8
—
 [61][62]
Crompton, JackJack Crompton  England 29 June 1962 6 July 1962 0 0 0 0 !—
—
 [63]
Harvey, BillBill Harvey  England 24 July 1962 21 November 1964 121 37 26 58 30.6
—
 [64][65]
Watkins, CharlieCharlie Watkins  Scotland 21 November 1964 16 February 1965 11 3 1 7 27.3
—
 [36][66]
Martin, GeorgeGeorge Martin  Scotland 16 February 1965 3 November 1966 82 34 16 32 41.5
—
 [54][67]
Brown, AllanAllan Brown  Scotland 4 November 1966 17 December 1968 111 56 24 31 50.5 Football League Fourth Division champions, 1967–68 [8][68][69]
Stock, AlecAlec Stock  England 20 December 1968 27 April 1972 172 71 56 45 41.3 Football League Third Division runners-up, 1969–70 [9][70][71]
none
—
 27 April 1972 4 May 1972 1 0 1 0 00.0
—
 [B][72]
Haslam, HarryHarry Haslam  England 4 May 1972 23 January 1978 275 110 69 96 40.0 Football League Second Division runners-up, 1973–74 [10][73]
Pleat, DavidDavid Pleat  England 24 January 1978 16 May 1986 393 158 108 127 40.2 Football League Second Division champions, 1981–82 [11][74]
Moore, JohnJohn Moore  Scotland 3 June 1986 16 June 1987 47 19 15 13 40.4 Club's best league finish: seventh in the top flight, 1986–87 [75][76]
Harford, RayRay Harford  England 16 June 1987 3 January 1990 133 51 34 48 38.3
[77][78]
Mancini, TerryTerry Mancini  Ireland 3 January 1990 11 January 1990 0 0 0 0 !—
—
 [79][80]
Ryan, JimJim Ryan  Scotland 11 January 1990 13 May 1991 63 18 16 29 28.6
—
 [81][82]
Pleat, DavidDavid Pleat  England 7 June 1991 11 June 1995 207 55 70 82 26.6
—
 [11][83]
Westley, TerryTerry Westley  England 3 July 1995 18 December 1995 28 5 7 16 17.9
—
 [84][85]
Lawrence, LennieLennie Lawrence  England 21 December 1995 4 July 2000 250 90 66 94 36.0
—
 [12][86]
Hill, RickyRicky Hill  England 10 July 2000 11 November 2000 21 2 8 11 09.5
—
 [13]
Fuccillo, LilLil Fuccillo  England 16 November 2000 8 February 2001 15 4 2 9 26.7
—
 [14][87]
Kinnear, JoeJoe Kinnear  Ireland 8 February 2001 23 May 2003 122 56 28 38 45.9 Football League Third Division runners-up, 2001–02 [15][16][18][19]
Newell, MikeMike Newell  England 23 June 2003 15 March 2007 200 83 49 68 41.5 Football League One champions 2004–05 [20][22][88]
Stein, BrianBrian Stein  England 15 March 2007 27 March 2007 1 0 0 1 00.0
—
 [89]
Blackwell, KevinKevin Blackwell  England 27 March 2007 16 January 2008 42 16 9 17 38.1
—
 [23][24][90]
Harford, MickMick Harford  England 16 January 2008 1 October 2009 91 25 29 37 27.5 Football League Trophy winners, 2008–09 [25][29][91]
Neilson, AlanAlan Neilson  Wales 1 October 2009 30 October 2009 5 4 1 0 80.0
—
 [29][30]
Money, RichardRichard Money  England 30 October 2009 28 March 2011 83 45 21 17 54.2 Conference Premier runners-up, 2009–10 [30][31]
Brabin, GaryGary Brabin  England 28 March 2011 31 March 2012 62 29 22 11 46.8 Conference Premier play-off finalists, 2010–11 [31][32]
Neilson, AlanAlan Neilson  Wales 31 March 2012 8 April 2012 1 0 0 1 00.0
—
 [32][33]
Buckle, PaulPaul Buckle  England 8 April 2012 19 February 2013 48 26 9 13 54.2 Conference Premier play-off finalists, 2011–12 [33][34]
Neilson, AlanAlan Neilson  Wales 19 February 2013 26 February 2013 3 0 1 2 00.0
—
 [92][93][94]
Still, JohnJohn Still  England 26 February 2013 17 December 2015 148 69 38 41 46.6 Conference Premier champions, 2013–14 [33][34][95]
Awford, AndyAndy Awford  England 17 December 2015 6 January 2016 4 1 1 2 25.0
—
 [95]
Jones, NathanNathan Jones  Wales 6 January 2016 Present 47 24 10 13 51.1
—
 [96]

Footnotes

A. a b c Secretary-manager
B. a b c d e f g The club was managed by a committee during these times, made up of the club's trainer and directors.
C. ^ George Martin was appointed as coach on 1 August 1939, and promoted to manager on 4 December 1944.[36]

References

General
Specific
  1. ↑ Collings (1985). p. 1.
  2. ↑ Collings (1985). pp. 13–14.
  3. 1 2 Collings (1985). p. 29–31.
  4. 1 2 Collings (1985). p. 32–34.
  5. 1 2 Collings (1985). pp. 57–60.
  6. 1 2 Collings (1985). pp. 78–82.
  7. 1 2 Collings (1985). pp. 82–86.
  8. 1 2 Collings (1985). pp. 105–108.
  9. 1 2 Collings (1985). pp. 108–111.
  10. 1 2 "Harry Haslam's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "David Pleat's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  12. 1 2 "Lennie Lawrence's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  13. 1 2 "Ricky Hill's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  14. 1 2 "Fuccillo is new Luton boss". BBC. 16 November 2000. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  15. 1 2 "Joe Kinnear's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  16. 1 2 "Kinnear heads for the Hatters". The Independent. London: Independent News & Media. 8 February 2001. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  17. ↑ Haylett, Trevor (25 April 2001). "Rotherham on the rise as Luton fall". The Independent. London: Independent News & Media. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  18. 1 2 Harrison, Lindsay (24 May 2003). "Kinnear parts company with Luton". The Independent. London: Independent News & Media. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  19. 1 2 Lovejoy, Joe (12 October 2008). "Joe Kinnear: Still crazy after all these years". The Times. London: Times Newspapers. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  20. 1 2 "Luton pick Newell". The Daily Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media Group. 23 June 2003. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  21. 1 2 3 Graham, Bob (16 May 2007). "Exposed: The Chairman who paid agents £150,000 in bungs". The Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  22. 1 2 "Mike Newell leaves Luton". Luton Town F.C. 16 March 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  23. 1 2 "Luton Town appoint new manager". BBC. 2 April 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  24. 1 2 Hooper, Andy (12 January 2008). "Kevin Blackwell resigns from Luton Town". The Daily Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  25. 1 2 Hodges, Vicki; Caroe, Charlie (16 January 2008). "Mick Harford replaces Kevin Blackwell at Luton". The Daily Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  26. ↑ Solhekol, Kaveh (16 July 2008). "Luton Town lose appeal against points deduction". The Times. London: Times Newspapers. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  27. ↑ "Luton 0–0 Chesterfield". BBC. 13 April 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  28. ↑ Fletcher, Paul (5 April 2009). "Luton 3-2 Scunthorpe (aet)". BBC. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  29. 1 2 3 "Hatters part company with Mick". Luton Town F.C. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  30. 1 2 3 "Interest grows on Money". Luton Town F.C. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  31. 1 2 3 "Club Statement". Luton Town F.C. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  32. 1 2 3 "Club Statement". Luton Town F.C. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  33. 1 2 3 4 "Paul Buckle: the Town's new boss". Luton Town F.C. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  34. 1 2 3 "John Still: Luton Town appoint Dagenham & Redbridge boss". BBC. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  35. ↑ "Football: 'The most remarkable season ever' - Luton Town boss John Still hails his record breakers". Luton on Sunday. LD Express Newspaper Ltd. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  36. 1 2 3 Bailey (1997). p. 101.
  37. ↑ Collings (1985). pp. 244–245, 351.
  38. ↑ "George Thompson's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  39. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 19–20.
  40. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 20–22.
  41. ↑ "John McCartney's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  42. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 22–24.
  43. ↑ "George Kay's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  44. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 24–26.
  45. ↑ "Harold Wightman's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  46. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 26–30.
  47. ↑ Collings (1985). pp. 43–36.
  48. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 30–31.
  49. ↑ "Ned Liddell's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  50. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 31–32.
  51. ↑ Bailey (1997). p. 32.
  52. ↑ "Neil McBain's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  53. ↑ Bailey (1997). p. 33.
  54. 1 2 "George Martin's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  55. 1 2 Bailey (1997). p. 34.
  56. ↑ "Dally Duncan's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  57. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 34–46.
  58. ↑ Bailey (1997). p. 46.
  59. ↑ "Syd Owen's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  60. 1 2 Bailey (1997). p. 47.
  61. ↑ "Sam Bartram's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  62. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 48–49.
  63. ↑ Collings (1985). pp. 89–93.
  64. ↑ "Bill Harvey's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  65. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 50–52.
  66. ↑ Bailey (1997). p. 52.
  67. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 52–54.
  68. ↑ "Allan Brown's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  69. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 54–56.
  70. ↑ "Alec Stock's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  71. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 56–59.
  72. ↑ Bailey (1997). p. 59.
  73. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 59–65.
  74. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 65–73.
  75. ↑ "John Moore's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  76. ↑ Bailey (1997). p. 74.
  77. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 74–77.
  78. ↑ "Ray Harford's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  79. ↑ Dunn, Alan (1990-01-21). "Taste of life at the top for Aston Villa". Manchester Guardian Weekly. Guardian and Manchester Evening News: 30.
  80. ↑ Bailey (1997). p. 77.
  81. ↑ "Jim Ryan's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  82. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 77–78.
  83. ↑ Bailey (1997). pp. 79–82.
  84. ↑ "Terry Westley's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  85. ↑ Bailey (1997). p. 83.
  86. ↑ Bailey (1997). p. 84.
  87. ↑ "Lil Fuccillo's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  88. ↑ "Mike Newell's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  89. ↑ Harris, Nick (16 March 2007). "Newell seals fate with attack on club board". The Independent. London: Independent News & Media. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  90. ↑ "Kevin Blackwell's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  91. ↑ "Mick Harford's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  92. ↑ "AN: Defeat summed up our season". Luton Town F.C. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  93. ↑ "Neilson put in temporary charge as Buckle departs". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  94. ↑ "Neilson apologises to fans after Braintree debacle". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  95. 1 2 "John Still: Luton Town sack boss, Andy Awford named caretaker". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  96. ↑ "Nathan Jones: Brighton coach appointed Luton Town boss". BBC Sport. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.

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