Manager sackings have become a recurring theme in footballing news over the past season. On countless occasions, managers of teams in English football parted ways, sometimes voluntarily, but sometimes were sacked, and for questionable reasons.
Non League Luton Town were also a team who got rid of their manager last season, which took place in February 2013 following only 3 wins in 13 league games. Granted, this is not exactly title-winning performances that perhaps fans expect a club like Luton should be achieving, but in my opinion, the club has been very swift to get rid of managers without really giving them enough time. Paul Buckle had one year, and in all honesty, that just doesn’t really ensure the squad has gelled and meant he had not imparted his full potential upon the team players.
Ever since the desperate plunge from The Championship in 2007, and the sacking of Mike Newell, The Hatters have had 10 managers. Even by Chelsea’s standards, that is a ludicrous figure.
It seems to me, that when sitting in the stands at Kenilworth Road, or in some other bleak Conference stadium there are always murmurs of discontent. Two or three losses in a row and some are already calling for the head of whoever is in charge. In Paul Buckle’s case, yes he had undergone one of the worst runs in Luton’s history in the Conference, however he had just rewritten FA Cup history. Whilst I do appreciate that our main concern is to get back in to the football league, the attention that Luton garnered throughout the first few months of 2013 was very welcome by all involved with the club. Furthermore, Paul Buckle had one of the best win percentage ratios of all recent Luton Town managers, however a small period of poor results ultimately cost him his job.
So far, John Still has performed mediocrely since taking up his tenure as Luton boss, stating that he is a long-term boss who will not have any immediate impact on the team, and this is something that needs to be considered when looking at the results being achieved. Taking over from Buckle in February 2013, he guided Luton to a 7th place finish, which was the worst finish the club have had in the Conference. This was not his fault in any way, and he made several changes within the club over the summer break.
The start for Luton this season, whilst not alarming, has not been the smoothest. With 5 games played, 1 win, 1 loss and 3 draws have left the joint title favourites in 14th place. If this run does continue, it is certain to begin the rumblings within stands, however there is a necessity to stick with Still, even if it means Luton spend another 2 seasons in the Conference. We have proven that sacking managers on a seemingly constant basis does not work for us. For those who will say “but it works at Chelsea”, that is simply due to the fact they have a Russian billionaire funding the club, who are able to bring nearly any player they wish to Stamford Bridge. Luton on the other hand do not have the finances for this to be viable.
That being the case, stability is the best way forward in my opinion. Since March 2007, the longest serving managers The Hatters have had is 1 year and 9 months, Mick Harford being the man who had that achievement, and he was the unfortunate person who was in charge for the outrageous 30 point deduction which took Luton down to the 5th tier of English football. Bar himself and Richard Money, who was in charge for 1 year and 5 months, no other manager has lasted more than 1 year as Luton boss, and this is why I believe we are still dwindling in the Conference.
Leave a manager for 3 years, see what he can do, let him build up, make sure the team has fully integrated and know the ins and outs of each others games, and then assess the situation. Clubs are always too fast to get rid of coaches without really giving them the benefit of time to ensure all their efforts are complete and that they can no longer add to the club.
There is not going to be any quick fix to Luton’s woes, and instead it may take some time for John Still’s visions to come to light, all I am trying to say is give him some time, and if results do not pick up immediately, don’t get on his back. Security and a long-serving time at the helm of the club in the majority of cases is a successful one, it is merely impatience that prevents clubs from taking that route.
