Rob Edwards
Posted inDaily News

#PLStories- Rob Edwards hails ‘incredible’ support from Luton’s board in the transfer window as he targets a ‘few more’ signings ##LUTONTOWNFC

August 5, 2023
Hatters boss Rob Edwards has hailed the ‘incredible' support received from CEO Gary Sweet and the rest of Luton’s board in his efforts to bolster Town’s squad for the upcoming Premier League season.With the club going into a summer transfer window like no other, having their coffers boosted by around £100m after winning the Championship play-off final at Wembley, the Hatters haven’t been able to pump it all into signing players, shelling out over £10m on ground improvements to make sure Kenilworth Road can host top flight games this term.Town are also ring-fencing a large chunk of it to finance their new ground at Power Court, leaving Luton with much less than the other promoted teams, and the rest of their rivals, to spend on new additions.Town legend Mick Harford, the Hatters' chief recruitment officer, plus chairman David Wilkinson and CEO Gary Sweet watch on as Luton drew with Wolves on Wednesday night - pic: Eddie Keogh/Getty ImagesDespite that, owners 2020 are still making a real fist of it, as ahead of the window, the club had spent £1m just twice in their previous 138-year history, when signing Croatian goalkeeper Simon Sluga in 2019 and striker Carlton Morris last summer.However, the Hatters have now done that up to four times in the space of a month, with Mads Andersen, Tahith Chong, Ryan Giles and Thomas Kaminski all believed to have cost seven figures.It might even be five, the fee not revealed for Marvelous Nakamba when joining from Aston Villa as well, as when asked about the backing he had received in his hunt for new players, Edwards said: “Gary and the board have been incredible, but I think there’s a clear strategy as well."You can see that with our recruitment, we’re bringing in good people, good players, players that we feel first of all can thrive at this level now and try and keep kicking us on and keep kicking us forward."Some of them, Marv, has got Premier League experience, but we feel that they’ve performed so well in the Championship that they’re able to make that step up.”After revealing that Luke Freeman, Admiral Muskwe, Dion Pereira and Glen Rea are likely to leave the club during the current window to free up spaces in Town’s squad, Edwards reiterated his desire to carry on adding to the six new faces he has already secured.He added: “There’s a 25-man squad that you can announce."We haven’t got to fill that, I want a nice tight group to work with and a group that feel all involved and have got a chance to get those minutes."But we need competition throughout the squad in every position, so there’s a couple of areas that I still want to try and do a little bit more work in."I won't say anything yet, but we’re working hard behind the scenes to try and do that, like everyone is."You’ll hear that up and down the country at the moment, but there will be a few more.”
Ruben Selles
Posted in2022-2023-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton’s Ruben Selles provides insight into discussions with club about new manager for next season #SAINTSFC

May 27, 2023
Selles became Saints’ third permanent manager this season when he was given the full-time job until the end of the campaign following a shock 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge in February. But just one more victory followed the Chelsea result - a 1-0 home win against Leicester City - and Saints have now failed to win any of their last 12 Premier League matches. That run has helped lead Saints to relegation, confirmed a fortnight ago when they were beaten 2-0 by Fulham. READ MORE: Saints reveal reduced season ticket pricing for 2023-24 Championship campaign And earlier this week following Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Brighton, Saints confirmed that the Spaniard’s contract would not be renewed this summer meaning he will depart St Mary’s with Russell Martin widely expected to take over. “The club wants to place on record its thanks to Rubén for taking on the managerial position at a difficult time for the club and for giving his all as we attempted to stay in the Premier League," the statement read. Speaking about how the club’s decision was relayed to him, Selles said on Friday: "After the Brighton game, they (the club’s owners) communicated there was a meeting with me on Monday morning.  “It was a very simple talk. We had a meeting for an hour and a half and they communicated that my contract would not be renewed. "Two months ago, I had a talk with them and they knew my thoughts. It was that, two months ago, they have their own process and they communicate with me on Monday. "I did as much as I can. I show that I make the team competitive. We didn't get the results we wanted. We had an identity. "I did my best and that's the reality. I still think I am ready, but that is not my call. My focus is to try and get us in the best way possible for Sunday against Liverpool." It’s no surprise to see Selles uninterested in staying at the club as a coach after the 39 year old repeated on multiple occasions that he feels prepared to be a manager at this stage in his career. Speaking last week ahead of Saints’ 3-1 defeat to Brighton, Selles explained: “First question is if I want to stay as a coach if I’m not the manager, absolutely not. If somebody has a doubt or if they don’t know it through me they can read it through the media. “That’s very direct and yes I will try to make my career as a manager. Here if it is possible but if it is not I hope it will be another place.”