LutonTown

‘Not just another game’: revenge in air as Rob Edwards’ Luton face Watford

31-Mar-2023 13:24:13 | The Guardian

Manager was sacked by Watford after 10 Championship games but has his latest charges pushing for promotion before derby

Rob Edwards did not have long to dwell on the disappointment of falling victim in the autumn to Watford’s infamous impatience. His reputation as one of the brightest young managers in English football had survived his experience of working for the Pozzo family. After all Edwards had been in charge for only 10 league games before being fired and, given how abruptly things had ended at Vicarage Road, there was no reason for him to worry about inflaming local tensions when he received an offer from Watford’s fiercest rivals.

It was the right fit for Edwards. Luton Town had a vacancy after losing Nathan Jones to Southampton in November and were quick to capitalise on Watford’s folly. Everyone had seen the former Wales international’s potential when he led Forest Green Rovers to the League Two title last season. It was why Watford, bruised after relegation from the Premier League, went for him. They were crying out for fresh ideas after Roy Hodgson’s pointless tenure and, when Scott Duxbury, Watford’s chief executive, insisted that Edwards would be backed “come hell or high water”, it seemed that a club who have been known to burn through three managers in a single campaign were about to usher in an era of stability.