Sweet indicates new boss would have to get the most out of current squad

‘Genuine personal circumstances’ are said to be behind the move as the pair parted ways be mutual consent.

The search for a new boss was set to begin in earnest immediately after the game according to managing director Gary Sweet, who had held crunch talks with Buckle over the club’s future on Monday and on how much of the cash generated by Town’s run to the fifth round of the FA Cup would be made available to him to strengthen his squad.

On what had happened, speaking exclusively to the Luton News/Dunstable Gazette Sweet said: “We had meetings after Saturday’s game in order to get refocused for the league and, it transpired, Paul’s future, and Paul decides that due to personal situation he is unable to continue in the role.

“They are undisclosable otherwise they would not be personal and we are fully aware of them. We wanted to support Paul in that. We agreed a mutual separation which was beneficial to both parties.

Buckle becomes the fourth manager to depart the Kenilworth Road hotseat in three-and-a-half years and follows Mick Harford, Richard Money and Gary Brabin out of the door, who have all left the club under 2020’s tenure.

And Sweet admitted that level of turnover is a concern, although indicated that any potential candidate would have to get the most out of the current squad.

Former Town favourite and current Northern Ireland U21 and U19 boss Steve Robinson had been linked with the job at the end of last week, while a number of other high-profile names with track records and ex-Hatters stars are also available.

Luton are set to announce an interview panel today to find Buckle’s replacement as Sweet continued: “We know how to do this now. As a board we’ve got a lot of experience at this.

“What a lot of people don’t know is we’ve got a lot of support from various people inside the game of football who we have used on a consultancy basis in the past.

“We will be using one or two names and we will announce an interview panel tomorrow.

“The process moving forward and the interview panel will be agreed by the board and we will swiftly be moving on to the selection process and do it quickly.”

We contacted Paul Buckle last night, but he declined to comment at the current time.

At Monday’s press conference he had highlighted the meeting later that day and, on what would be discussed, he said: “How are we going to take it forward really? Which is important.”

Chairman Nick Owen was disappointed to see him go and won’t be directly involved in the selection process for a replacement.

He added: “I’m sorry to see Paul go and I just wish Paul Buckle all the best and thank him for everything he has done for Luton Town Football Club.”

For the full story see the News Gazette.