QPR and Millwall rivals appoint award-winning manager in huge Championship coup

Luton Town are set to confirm Matt Bloomfield as the club's new manager.Luton Town are set to confirm Matt Bloomfield as the club's new manager.
Luton Town are set to confirm Matt Bloomfield as the club's new manager. | Getty Images
Luton Town parted ways with Rob Edwards following defeat to QPR last week and have found his replacement.

QPR and Millwall rivals Luton Town have named former Wycombe Wanderers manager Matt Bloomfield as the successor to Rob Edwards at Kenilworth Road in a head-turning Championship coup.

The Hatters parted ways with Edwards last week following the 2-1 defeat to QPR at Loftus Road. Speaking after the match, the 42-year-old appeared confident in his position but it was confirmed that he had parted ways with Luton Town in a mutual agreement on Thursday.

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The former Premier League side were beaten 2-0 by Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Saturday but are set to host Preston North End this weekend with a new manager in charge. Luton Town named Bloomfield as their new manager on Tuesday afternoon.

QPR and Millwall rivals set appoint new manager

Luton Town made an approach to Wycombe Wanderers over the weekend, with Bloomfield's contract not expiring until 2026. In a statement today, Wycombe said: “Wycombe Wanderers can today confirm that Matt Bloomfield leaves for Luton Town.

“The Club is naturally disappointed with Matt’s decision to leave in the middle of the season. However, we respect his decision to pursue this new chapter in his career. He leaves with the gratitude and best wishes of everyone at Wycombe Wanderers, and we thank him for his service to the club.”

Bloomfield had been touted as the 'ideal candidate' to take on the position at Kenilworth Road by The Guardian after his work at Adams Park and previously at Colchester United. It is expected that he will bring his staff from Wycombe Wanderers with Luton Town assistant managers, Paul Trollope and Richie Kyle expected to follow Edwards out the door.

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It's a head-turning appointment for Luton Town, who sit 20th in the Championship after 26 outings, just two points above the drop zone. The club has lost their last 11 away games.

Bloomfield had been enjoying a thoroughly impressive season at Wycombe Wanderers with the club sitting second in League One and chasing automatic promotion. The coach has won the award for League One Manager of the Month three times since April 2024, picking up the accolade in October and November this season.

His Wycombe Wanderers side beat Championship outfit Portsmouth 2-0 in the FA Cup on Friday night. Bloomfield had addressed recent links with Luton Town and said: “It’s obviously flattering as you get don’t linked to other jobs if you’re doing poorly and it is lovely to be spoken about, but nothing is going to take my eye off the ball here.

“I’m very passionate about my job and I have given this club everything over 21-and-a-bit years and I will continue to do that. I try my best to get my passion and enthusiasm across to the players.”

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Matt Bloomfield appointed at Kenilworth Road

Having now put pen to paper on a three year deal at Kenilworth Road, Bloomfield told the club website: “It’s a genuine honour and a privilege to be here, to be appointed as manager of this incredible club. I’m really, really proud. It’s been a busy few days, a very busy weekend but I’ve met the recruitment team, met Gary and spent some time with the board.

“The fact that they’re all Luton supporters and that they care so much about their football club shone through, and the fact that they had a real big desire for me to join our football club also shone through, so I’m incredibly proud and very, very happy to be here.

“That made me feel very comfortable and very wanted, which is huge for me. I want to work with people who care and fans who also care – and they certainly do here. I want to work with people who want the best for their football club, and that’s more than evident with Gary, the chairman and the board of directors.

“That feeling that they gave me and the feeling of being wanted, how much research they’ve done into me and the football team that we’ve produced at Colchester and Wycombe, and the knowledge base of what I stand for, who I am and what we’ve tried to produce in our football team left me in no uncertain times that this was the right move at the right time.”

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Rob Edwards shares parting Luton Town message

On leaving Luton Town last week, Edwards penned a heartfelt message to the Championship club. In a statement shared on the club website, he said: "It's been a privilege to manage Luton Town Football Club, but now is the right time for me to move on, for the club and me.

"I would like to thank Gary Sweet and the board for giving me the opportunity and for their support. To all the amazing staff in the offices, at the stadium and at the training ground, thank you, you've been incredible and I will miss you.

"I'm really proud of what we achieved, not only winning a play-off game which the club had struggled to do, but winning the final and gaining promotion to the Premier League at Wembley was the most amazing experience!

"I take with me some incredible memories, not just the victories against Watford or Sunderland in the semi-final, or Brighton, Newcastle, Palace or Everton. But the way we did it, how we played against Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Villa and Manchester United, we were brave and brilliant to watch, how the Kenny bounced and roared! That's what I'll remember.

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"It wasn't always easy, we lived through the most difficult times. What happened at Bournemouth last December will always remain with me. How the medical team reacted along with the paramedics to save Tom was remarkable. Truly heroic, and once again I want to thank them. The most important thing is that Tom Lockyer is with us and has a great chance to play again. I love you mate!

"To the players, I say thank you. Thanks for always giving your best, thanks for keeping it fun and to those that were there, thanks for delivering in the biggest moment of our lives!"

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