Fans react to Luton’s shortlist of the three managerial candidates to replace Matt Bloomfield who was sacked earlier this week.
The Hatters are going for a change of managerial after nine months following a fifth League One defeat, leaving them 11th and 3 points behind the playoff places, aiming to revive their promotion push after back-to-back relegations.
Football League World have been told that Luton have shortlisted three candidates to replace him with Leyton Orient’s Richie Wellens, who may require a £1m compensation fee; Luke Williams, unemployed since his Swansea sacking in February; and Jack Wilshere, former Norwich caretaker and Arsenal U18 coach.
Luton’s strategy of appointing younger, up-and-coming managers continues, with Wellens being the most experienced, though all three have relatively short managerial careers.
The club faces a choice between investing in Wellens or opting for the potentially riskier but cheaper Williams or Wilshere.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE 🚨
Luton Town have drawn up a three-man shortlist to replace Matt Bloomfield – and it includes Jack Wilshere…👀
Full story 👇 https://t.co/46LvX7qWJ9#COYH
— Football League World (@FootballLeagueW) October 10, 2025
Luton and another managerless League One club in Blackpool are interested in appointing Richie Wellens as their manager, but per Alan Nixon, Leyton Orient, where Wellens has been in charge since March 2022, are demanding around £1 million in compensation to let him go.
Wellens, who has strong ties to Blackpool from his playing days, guided Leyton Orient to the League Two title in 2023 and narrowly missed promotion to the Championship last season.
Despite Orient’s slow start this season, Wellens’ impressive track record makes him a prime target, though it’s uncertain if he’d move to a rival League One club.
FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW LUTON MANAGER:
BetVictor – 10th October
Richie Wellens – 4/6
Jon Brady – 7/2
Jack Wilshere – 5/1
Fans react to Luton’s shortlist of the three managerial candidates to replace Matt Bloomfield…
@LTHTCL: I know many people are very unhappy with the prospect of Jon Brady already, but listening to his philosophy, it sounds exactly like what we need? A manager who can unite fans, players, get belief flowing again. Granted, at this stage, I’d still much rather have Wellens
@prishungry: Of the 3, Wellens probably has more of the skills & experience we need. Wilshere is the exciting option that could go really well or disastrous. Williams is the continuity option that wouldn’t address any of the failings of the last 18 months
@LTFCPanthers: Out of those 3, has to be Wellens
@andy_jones23: I’m starting to come around to the idea of Wellens. He clearly doesn’t suffer fools gladly. However, part of me would still like someone with a little bit more experience on their side. We shall see! #LTFC
@daggersfam: That article tells me all I need to know. Bloomfield MK2 with a promotion on his CV. No thanks.
@ABeardedGazelle: He could be a superb manager in the lower leagues, but it’d be underwhelming & do nothing to improve the atmosphere around the club
@RogueFYHL: #wellens back to odds on. Wilshire from 8/1 – 5/1. Joe Brady from 2/1 to 7/2. #ltfc
@sammdijk: I don’t think there’s been a better fit than Richie Wellens to Luton. Biggest prick of a manager to scummy club. On an unrelated note I’m starting to come around to this Leyton Orient team
Betting for the Luton job has been suspended and reopened a few times in the past 24 hours. Open at the moment with Richie Wellens still the favourite from Jack Wilshere. One new name in at 16/1 is another Hatters manager, Stockport’s Dave Challinor. https://t.co/Y6a0uLdd3l
— LutonNews_LTFC (@LutonNews_LTFC) October 10, 2025
New joint favourite for the Luton job now as ex-Northampton manager Jon Brady goes in at 2/1 along with Richie Wellens. No surprise it happened after an interview with the Independent went online today. https://t.co/6eoBkWRMZW
— LutonNews_LTFC (@LutonNews_LTFC) October 10, 2025
Jon Brady is, pound for pound, probably the EFL’s best manager this decade. He speaks about the “addiction” to a stressful job, working with the LMA to identify coaching trends and how, in his playing time, anyone who did 3-5-2 was a “guru”https://t.co/EVcZfRBvJ9
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) October 9, 2025
@dublinhatter: Dave Challinor might be a dark horse and has a more impressive record than Wellens……
@mcgrath52854: [Brady] Would be an excellent choice, resigned from Northampton on principle, so clearly not motivated by money.
@Bell1991_: Fans would not be happy with this [Brady] at all
@Stew2205: Cobblers fan here. He would be an excellent choice for you. Brilliant coach, great man manager, brought our club and town together. Been working in Europe with top clubs this year. It’s more whether he’d want the shit show that is Luton currently I think.
@Pilfry: Cheers Stew, think he moved on from yous due to feeling he’d taken you as far as he could. He’ll know despite our current situation, that he can have a huge impact and take us back to the EPL if he gets it right. Doubt he’s holding out for the Man Utd job.
@Stew2205: Exactly right. He has worked his way up through Non League and Youth teams. His achievements at Cobblers went massively under the radar. A genuine, honest hard working bloke.
@robmoss1989: Typical tight arse sweet if he signs him
@OliverMehlman: Downgrades of all downgrades
@ollie1885: Would cause riots
@danlukeashby: Jon Brady would be massively underwhelming and feels like the cheap option if Luton appoint him in as manager. It doesn’t guarantee anything, but seeing Wellens take his pre-match press conference seems to make it slightly less likely he’ll be joining us… Initially Brady does sound like an underwhelming candidate. But the more you read about him and his ethos, he does seem like someone who *could* have the necessary effect. #LTFC
@LUT_OWN: To those complaining, genuine question… Is this not exactly what we need? “The next club that hires me isn’t just getting a manager. They’re getting someone who can transform a culture, unite fans, and is proven to win games of football”
@FanHubHatter: I had to Google who he was, 37% win rate at Northampton. I don’t see why we’d go for him, but I also don’t see why people would randomly start betting on him to be our new manager and push his odds in.
@HappyLuton1982: The list is getting worse by the minute.
@Jdrt4: Wellens/McCormack combination
@RCW7777: I’d rather Jon Brady or Wilshere over Richie Wellens if I’m honest. Brady seems an honest straight talker and I like that. Also 4231 as added motivation.
