Carden: Fan power led to Brabin’s demise

FIRST team coach Paul Carden admitted that fan pressure and a poor run of results led to the downfall of manager Gary Brabin, writes Mike Simmonds.

Town haven’t won in seven league and cup games, while Brabin had received a torrent of abuse from Hatters supporters after the games against Forest Green, Grimsby and York City.

Carden has spoken to the former boss since the decision and said: “He was really disappointed, but it’s a results business isn’t it, that’s the whole top and bottom of it.

“If it wasn’t and on popularity, then in the dressing room and around the club Gary would still be in the job.

“But because of results and because of the fans’ disappointment and rightly so, because we haven’t performed in the last month or so, it’s cost somebody his job, who is very popular around the place.

“If you look at the league table, then we’re still in touching distance, but the run of results has added pressure to what is already a really tense situation.”

The immense expectation to win promotion back to the Football League at Luton is like no other side in the Conference, but according to Carden, it was something Brabin was well aware of when he took the job, and in fact relished.

He continued: “It’s quite a unique position as Luton Town manager, there’s not any other club with the expectation that Luton have got in this division.

“They’ve got different pressure for different reasons, ie Fleetwood who spend a good chunk of money which has been ploughed in by a rich chairman, whereas this club has got a big fanbase and pressure coming from the fanbase.

“Gary always maintained he wouldn’t want it any other way. If he had a job with no pressure, what’s the point?

“We know people have been saying he’s been under pressure though and he hadn’t been enjoying that.”

For current caretaker boss Alan Neilson, he is still getting used to the change in management as he said: “I spoke to Brabs on Saturday and called him gaffer, he said no, I’m just Brabs now, so it’s disappointing, but that can happen in the football business.”

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