“A chance he could resign” - Luton Town: Pundits make Rob Edwards claim | OneFootball

Sam Parkin and Adrian Clarke have discussed the future of Rob Edwards amid Luton Town's poor run.

Adrian Clarke has revealed that he wouldn’t be surprised if Rob Edwards resigned from his job at Luton Town as their poor form continued with a 5-1 hammering at Middlesbrough last time out.

After suffering relegation from the Premier League last season, there was an expectation around Kenilworth Road that the Hatters could be in the mix to bounce back immediately.

However, after 15 games, they sit outside the relegation zone on goals scored, and they are already ten points away from the play-off places.

Rob Edwards under pressure at Luton Town

Therefore, pressure is building on the former Forest Green chief, with fans showing their frustration in recent games, whilst Edwards admitted his future is ‘out of my hands’ after the thrashing on Teesside.

And, speaking on the What the EFL!? Podcast, pundit Sam Parkin explained that he thought there had been improvements in recent weeks, even if he acknowledged Luton have been below par this season.

“I think there has been a more consistent Luton in terms of their performances, but the problem is they’ve only taken seven points from the available 18, so they’re not rising up the table or putting back-to-back wins together, meaning the mood is not improving.

“I still deep down think that there’s so many sensible people at Luton, and the way they’ve run the club over the years, with the infrastructure improving and a new ground on the horizon, I think in an ideal world they would love to stick with Edwards and have that continuity.

“But, as he had to in the last international break, he’s going to have to rethink one or two things. He’s gone into this season and wanted to show a little bit more of what he’s about as a coach. He was looking at different patterns, they were trying to play a little bit more with the keeper and the centre-backs, they were playing out and trying to make the spare man. I think in the last few weeks they’ve ripped that up and gone back to what got them success. That was an admission, to a degree, that this is the best way to get points.

“I think if you put that in with the mental side of dropping out of the Premier League, maybe more so the players than Edwards, then I think there has been a hangover. It must be really difficult, especially for those linked with a move back to the Premier League, to cope with the intensity of the Championship.

“I think they’re just suffering at the moment. I hope they don’t change, and I think he can turn it around, but I think he is the most in danger because of the way he is speaking, so they must be having that type of discussion.

“What I would say, coming down from the Premier League, if they did have a different voice, maybe they would have more points. Rob to be there with his staff and the same group of players going into the Championship, has been really problematic. I didn’t want that to happen, I didn’t think it would happen, but with retrospect, maybe they would be sitting prettier. But, I’ve got a lot of time for Edwards and I hope they can turn it around. But, it’s not going to be a season where they’re in the play-offs.”

Meanwhile, fellow pundit Adrian Clarke also expressed his hope that Edwards would stay, but he felt the tone of his press conference following the Boro loss suggested the 41-year-old could step back himself.

“There’s a chance here he could resign. If he thinks he can’t take them any further, he might walk away. I really hope that doesn’t happen. He has proven himself to be a top coach over the years, that I think he remains an asset, but he’s definitely having a panic. There were some odd changes at Boro. Managers under pressure can make panicky decisions and overthink things, and that’s what he did last week.

“I think Luton’s hierarchy want to give him one last shot, and I think he deserves it.”

It was a very emotional press conference from Edwards after the defeat to Boro, and he is certainly taking responsibility for how things have gone this season.

There’s no doubt the team is underachieving, and ultimately the manager will be the one that pays the price for that.

But Edwards has credit in the bank for guiding Luton to promotion, even if that won’t last forever.

It does feel like Luton are in a mess right now overall, and the international break could be an opportunity to have productive talks, with Edwards settling on a clear style of play, and the Luton board offering support, as well as discussing what January could look like.

If there are doubts on either side, a departure may be for the best, as Luton have been poor this season.