United travel to Luton Town on Saturday looking to revenge a recent 4-3 home defeat to the Hatters. The Bedfordshire club currently sit fifth in the Blue Square Premier having lost only once in nine matches, but the U's will travel with hope knowing that Richard's Money's side count just one victory amongst their past five home games.
Since we met at the R Costings Abbey Stadium Town have parted company with Manager Mick Harford.
The 50-year old left by mutual consent after a 1-0 home defeat to Stevenage, with Chairman and former TV Am presenter Nick Owen stating, "All the time the club is looking at how much it is achieving and whether we are keeping up with our targets on the playing side, so it was an inevitable decision in a way."
After an extensive search Money was appointed in late October, bringing with him former U's Manager Gary Brabin as Chief Scout. Brabin had applied for the Manager's job, but now states that he wishes to, "learn from Money".
Some might say, though, that Harford was treated unfairly. Following the Hatters' predestined relegation from the Football League last season - thanks to a massive 30-point deduction imposed by the FA - they had started the campaign healthily and sat just outside the play-offs following three losses in thirteen matches.
Harford also steered Town to Wembley in May and, as if to prove a point to the authorities, they lifted the Johnstone's Paint Trophy courtesy of a 3-2 win over Scunthorpe. When you consider this, and the fact that he guided Luton through two years of turmoil, Harford may wonder if an injustice has been served.
Luton were plying their trade in the Championship as recently as the 2006/07 season. They were relegated at the end of that campaign and then, three months later, were plunged into administration as financial mismanagement took its toll. The regulation ten points were deducted and before long manager Kevin Blackwell had departed.
Loyal Blackwell did not want to leave but, after taking a swipe at the administrators for selling key players too quickly, was soon shown the door. The 2020 Group, an Owen-led consortium, then emerged as saviours in January 2008, with Harford installed until the takeover was completed. Unfortunately, the points deduction proved too excessive to overturn and, after losing their last six matches, a second consecutive relegation unfolded.
Thinking their nightmare was over, Hatters fans had worse to follow when the aforementioned 30-point deduction was imposed. The first 20 as a result of their Company Voluntary Agreement not being agreed with creditors, whilst a further ten were added for financial irregularities under the previous regime. Unsurprisingly this handicap meant it was impossible to avoid dropping into the Blue Square Premier last season, especially with Harford rebuilding his squad due to administration fuelled departures.
Nevertheless, had Town not suffered the points deduction they would have finished fifteenth so, with the Johnstone's Paint Trophy also in the cabinet, Harford will have been quietly pleased with his efforts and been looking forward to the challenge of guiding Town back to the Football League.
The Squad
Former Peterborough goalkeeper Mark Tyler was one of several close-season arrivals at Kenilworth Road, but he is sidelined with a back injury so 35-year old stopper Kevin Pilkington has joined on loan. Pilkington started his career at Manchester United, playing eight times, and has progressed to make nearly 400 appearances for Celtic, Mansfield and current club Notts County.
Former United left-back Freddie Murray (right) is midway through a six-month loan spell from Grays and has started regularly since his August arrival, whilst ex-Port Vale stalwart George Pilkington is currently holding on to the right full-back position.
In the centre of defence is the settled pairing of Shane Blackett and Alan White, both of whom have Football League experience.
Blackett signed from Peterborough in July and has previously won the Conference with Dagenham & Redbridge, while White is in his second spell at Luton following pit stops at Colchester, Leyton Orient, Notts County and Darlington. Defensive cover is provided by left-sided Lewis Emmanuel, slowly recovering from broken toe, along with youth products Jake Howells and Ed Asafu-Adjaye; the latter enjoying a spell with Salisbury last season.
In midfield Claude Gnakpa has recently made the left-wing spot his own. Signing from Peterborough during the 2008 close-season, he has played in Spain and France with Racing Santander and Montpellier respectively. Another summer acquisition from Peterborough is Adam Newton. The predominantly right-footed 28-year old has switched to the left flank of late; his knowledge learnt from spells with West Ham, Brentford and Portsmouth.
In the centre of the Park is club legend Kevin Nicholls. Spending five seasons with the Hatters from 2001-2006 the much admired Club Captain moved to Leeds for £700,000 before a £750,000 deal took him to Preston. However, when Town came calling in July 2008 he had no hesitation in signing. Nicholls will be partnered in the engine room by versatile Keith Keane, another to graduate from the Hatters Youth Team. Pushing Keane for a staring berth are Asa Hall, who began his career with Wolves before stays at Shrewsbury and Boston United, and former Rushden Captain Andy Burgess.
Injuries to forwards Liam Hatch and Steve Basham prompted Richard Money to sign prolific former Walton & Hersham, Chesham, St Albans and Staines man Mark Nwokeji on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge. Nwokeji will settle for the bench this Saturday, with evergreen Kevin Gallen likely to partner Tom Craddock. Shepherds Bush-born Gallen spent fourteen seasons with QPR scoring 97 goals in 400 appearances, and has also seen service at Huddersfield, Barnsley and MK Dons.
The dangerous Craddock arrived from Middlesbrough for a whopping £80,000 in January. Winning the FA Youth Cup with Boro in 2004 he enjoyed several loan spells, including with Luton, before limited opportunities paved the way for his arrival in Bedfordshire. Craddock subsequently netted ten goals in 27 games last season.
This Season
Luton started the campaign with a difficult trip to AFC Wimbledon, returning with a 1-1 draw thanks to Craddock's first-half penalty which kick-started an unbeaten eight game run. Craddock was on target again three days later as Mansfield were seen off 4-1 at Kenilworth Road, and to date Town have won five games in front of the home fans. Gateshead, Crawley, Barrow and Tamworth have all departed pointless, whilst Chester and York have managed to pocket draws.
The first of two defeats, as earlier mentioned, was the 1-0 reverse to Stevenage in Harford's last game, with the second being Richard Money's inaugural match, which resulted in a 2-0 loss to Rushden.
Following Harford's departure coaches Alan Neilsen and Kevin Watson temporarily oversaw first-team affairs, and they guided the Hatters to three wins and a draw in four games, including impressive away triumphs at Altrincham and Kidderminster. Town have recorded five victories on the road, and handy draws were gleaned from the trip to AFC Wimbledon as well as Kettering and Salisbury. The Hatters' last defeat on the road was a 3-0 defeat to Wrexham which Harford described as the worst display in his time with the club. They also returned without reward from Oxford; the leaders inflicting a 2-0 loss.
FA Cup antics have seen them defeat Grays 3-0 and then dispose of Rochdale 2-0 away after a 3-3 draw at Kenilworth Road. Top scorer is Kevin Gallen, whose brace at the Abbey contributes to a tally of seven.
This will be United's first trip to Kenilworth Road since an LDV vans Trophy tie in December 2002. On a freezing cold night United fell behind to Tony Thorpe's opener, but Terry Fleming equalised on the hour before Luke Guttridge bagged a golden goal winner in the 114th minute.
Aside of two draws, United have won twice at Kenilworth Road down the years, with Town recording three victories including a 1-0 triumph after our last League visit in March 2001.
Doug Shulman
The views expressed on this page are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cambridge United Football Club or the webmaster.
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