Dilemma for Town as kick-off looms
Hatters boss thwarted in his attempts to sign Spurs youngster
Mission improbable kicks off on Saturday as the Hatters bid to retain their Football League status despite starting on minus 30 points – and manager Mick Harford is not even sure what team he will be able to name.
Town will entertain Port Vale at Kenilworth Road in the season opener and desperately need to get off to a flying start if they are to overhaul their handicapped starting position.
But with only eight players contracted to the club the Hatters face a race against time to be ready.
Harford said: "It's very up in the air at the moment and depending on paperwork. We are still sorting out players' contracts with the Football League.
"We've maybe only got eight players on contract at the moment. It's a very nervous time and a situation we are trying to deal with."
On the challenge, Harford said: "It's imperative, as we've stressed to the players over the last few weeks, that we get off to a winning start.
"Our home form will be a major key to our survival. If we can get our home form on a par with a promotion team we will be OK."
Harford also admitted they have taken a look at Tottenham Hotspur's 19-year-old Czech striker Tomas Pekhart, but at present they are unable to get him on loan.
He said: "We had him watched the other night at Rushden & Diamonds and he scored a very good hat-trick. We've asked Tottenham about him but they are not prepared to let him out on loan at the moment."
Sadly though, the Hatters will be playing in last season's kit on Saturday after problems with the manufacturers.
Luton did consider playing in the retro 1988 Legends shirts, but this would have needed ratification by the Football League and was not a feasible option.
Managing director Gary Sweet said: "New kits are normally ordered in the previous autumn, but when we came into the club in April, nothing had been done.
"The manufacturer has pulled out all the stops to hit the beginning of the season, even going as far to make the players' kit by hand, but it hasn't come off and the delivery will be late.
"The lads know the situation and we told them they had to play in their birthday suits with tattoos for the sponsors logo and their squad number! Of course it's not that bad as they have a kit to play in.
"We wanted to play in the Legends kit but approval from the Football League would have taken too long, so we will use last year's kit for the first few games."
Season ticket sales at Kenilworth Road have continued to go well and the club's income is actually up on this time last year.
Director Stephen Browne added: "Season ticket sales, I think, are 3,300. That's just above last year.
"We think they will go up another 10 per cent in September when people come back from their holidays. On like-for-like we are up on last year.
"The actual income is up on that because of the number of people who have opted for the diamond ticket."
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Weather for Bedford
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
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Wind direction: North
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