Luton: Craddock spits his dummy?

Tom Craddock’sLuton Town future sems to be in doubt after revelations by Manager Richard Money after last night’s victory at Kettering.

Money stated that the reason Craddock didn’t make last night’s squad was that his head would not have been right for the game.

In his post match interview, the Hatters boss said that he has been trying to sit down woith Craddock to discuss a new two year contract, because as things stand he could walk away a free agent next summer. He continued that Craddock went to the manager yesterday and stated that he had been ‘tapped up’ by a football league club, as yet unnamed but rumoured to be Oxford United, and that he would like to speak to said club.

Craddock was told that when the club receive an offer through the proper channels they would inform the player.

It appears that means ‘you are a Luton player and you’re talking to no one until we say so’. In addition Craddock was then informed that if he feels he wants to speak to another club, then his head is not right for full concentration on a match on the same day as this conversation and that he would not be in the squad for the match.

Well played Richard Money.

I can understand Tommy’s frustrations, however, with the players in the squad currently, all will need to be at the top of their games to get in the side. That is what competition for places is all about! Tommy has not warranted a starting place during pre-season and the players given the job in the first two games have done the business. I’m sure Craddock would have been on the bench last night and probably would have got on at some point, but he needs to sort out his form, his loyalty and his attitude if he wants to be i n the first team.

Craddock was the club’s top scorer last season although he started the season much as he has this and came good later on.

Money is unmoved by the alleged interest of a few clubs in the player, reportedly Southampton and Scunthorpe as well as Oxford, and said:

‘It doesn`t worry us. The simple matter is we want 20 players who want to play for Luton Town. There is always going to be some issues with people that are not in the team. If that issue has arisen early with someone like Tommy Craddock, we`ll deal with it.’