If anybody was looking for a piece of sensational news coming out of Kenilworth Road, as we head towards another weekend without football, courtesy of the COVID-19 virus, then the mother of all stories has just broken.
The club has officially announced that they have parted company, by mutual agreement, with Graeme Jones and his backroom staff.
The official site, Luton Town FC, covers the parting of the ways but leaves the Hatters support asking lots of questions.
Why now?
Is it all down to saving money as the financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic start to hit home?
What route will Luton take now?
Is there a replacement lined up?
Are our finances so precarious the board had no choice?
Just some of the questions that immediately spring to mind.
I’m probably as bemused as the rest of you, but I’d certainly like to read your views in the comment facility beneath this article.
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Wow……mick to the rescue maybe….
He’s the liaison man until a new structure is put in place but they’re not inviting interviews for the position!
Hi mh an Alan, I am thinking that the boards logic is that saving the club is the number one priority. Their investment must be protected an the new stadium built. Jones wages an the others will be a huge burden at this time. As for mick he’s only liason not manager an with no football for the next few months you don’t need a manager. An when this is over it looks like managers will be ten a penny an cheaper. So could this be a sign of the future.
it just seems strange they stood by him for so long obviously thinking he was the man for the job and now he’s gone!
Strange happenings. Could be a disagreement over the future of Simon Sluga.
Graeme Jones was a competent coach but lacked the dynamic personality to be be a real leader
He did his best but should have brought in at least one reliable full back instead of a goalie in my opinion.
Mh, maybe they will be rehired after this is over on lower wages? These are strange times indeed
Please no!
They prob asked him & his cronies to take pay cuts & they refused. Dont think they will entertain having them back. Covid 19 has prob done us & the club a favour in a strange way.
my thoughts exactly
Hi mh an Alan, could this mean a return for Nathan then. With all that’s going on nothing would surprise me!!!
I’d welcome him back but would his head be turned again, in time?
I think he’s learnt a lesson an it would probably need to be a stable club. Like us to turn his head again.
don’t they say – Never go back!
Pleaty did ok by coming back…..
point accepted 🙂
Hi guys, I think we all agree. We have no idea what’s happening and the point is we must trust the board to bring us through this an survival is upmost. Not relegation or whatever league we end up in. Let’s just hope other clubs don’t go to the wall. Although I won’t be crying if the scum do lol
It’s mad how things have changed so quickly since the Chinese Virus spread, will the world ever be the same again?
Hi lads, I hope your all well? It’s been a while since I have been on here, but just wanted to say I like many were in total shock at the departure of Graeme Jones and I have to say a part of me is glad and another that it proves we are being hit hard by this virus financially which a lot of clubs will so it is sensible thing to do, mind you it makes you wonder if Jones had been doing well and we were say mid table this wouldn’t have happened they would have found another way to cut the costs, I like most of you on here wanted Jones out a longtime ago as he was tactically inept, I wish him well and he seemed a nice enough guy but not for us. So who next when please God we resume some normality, in an ideal world would like Chris Hughton but that’s bonkers he would be on a bigger wage than what Jones was on,a lot of luton fans don’t like Carl Robinson because of his Dongs connection but he is a good manager and would suit luton but won’t happen we would have to pay Oxford compensation and Sweet would never want him at club I guess.
I know I am going to get the abuse about Robinson but I am one of those who doesn’t care about past connections to some of our rivals, if their good enough that’s ok by me and good results will soon erase them past connections.
Hi all, I wonder if the board realised a long time ago that bringing in GJ was a mega mistake but because of financial reasons (wonder how much the pay off was for himself & merry men) or otherwise covid 19 came along & acted as a perfect foil for them to use in his removal. I personally think probably a bit of both but this is as we know a precarious time for clubs anyway so think as someone on here previously eluded it makes perfect sense to take this action anyway at this moment in time.I like most on here think it’s a blessing in disguise, I think if he had stayed & completed the season with Luton if that were in fact the scenario, I feel the odds of him keeping us up would have been miniscule anyway. I am sure he tried his best & wish him well but relieved he has gone so now the club can rebuild for hopefully a bright new future.
I find the comments on here interesting about a new manager. As I said when the news broke we seem to be getting our house in order now an not when our finances are to depleted. This makes good business sense. As to who the next manager is again as I’ve said if things happen as predicted managers will be ten a penny an take your pick as wages will be less
I wonder if we could get the likes of Hughton or Warnock if they took a pay cut when please God we resume season in a normal fashion. I wonder would they have got rid of Jones if we got relegated in normal circumstances, they may have kept him on if we didn’t have this Covid 19,I would like to think they would have given him the push though.
Hi Eddie, currently the thinking seems to be massive wage reduction is probable. An job loses big so I think clubs will be able to dictate what’s on offer an so many managers will be available that. Probably the tide has turned in favour of clubs again. Getting rid of inflated transfers an wages for mediocre players. An managers. I still think Nathan will be a front runner to return
Hi Chris, good to talk to you again. Ye a part of me wouldn’t mind seeing Nathan back but he walked out on us at such a crucial time and I find it hard to forgive him for that, I think he would jump to it mind you, I bet he would love to come back.
Hi Eddie, take a look at my new post on the latest vital luton post where I put my reasonings.