Rob Edwards steps down as Luton Town manager amid relegation battle

Rob Edwards has agreed to step down from his role as Luton manager.

Edwards guided the Hatters into the Premier League for the first time after play-off success at Wembley in 2023, but the club missed out on survival and have struggled on their return to the Championship.

Luton's 2-1 loss at QPR on Monday made it four defeats in a row and only two wins from their last 10 matches, leaving them 20th in the table.

Talks occurred after the result in west London and Edwards has stepped down by mutual consent after two years in charge at Kenilworth Road.

Ex-Luton manager and current chief recruitment officer Mick Harford will step up to help coaches Paul Trollope and Richie Kyle take the team for Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie at Premier League high-flyers Nottingham Forest.

"As with all decisions to part company with a manager, this has been a tough decision to arrive at, together with Rob, who has conducted himself with great professionalism and dignity throughout his two years at the club, and again this week as we have genuinely come to a mutual conclusion," Luton chief executive Gary Sweet told the club’s official website.

"Rob has given us some of our greatest days to celebrate as Hatters. Those two barnstorming derby victories at Kenilworth Road, the play-off final at Wembley and our season in the Premier League will live with us forever and in doing so Rob has earned himself a legendary status.

"Results this season, especially away from home, have clearly not been acceptable and while we have supported Rob and his team in every possible way, we all felt that action was required to rectify this with 20 league matches still to play.

"It is typical of Rob’s humility that he also recognised this himself and leaves not just as a