This Luton Town weekly round-up includes news of a key player departing and personnel changes regarding the Town’s academy coaches. The Hatters have also been busy arranging more pre-season friendlies at home and abroad.
Luton Town Weekly Round-Up – Fans Favourite Departs, Changes Regarding Academy Coaches
Ross Barkley Signs For Aston Villa
As had been rumoured for a while, Hatters midfielder Ross Barkley has left for Aston Villa. Signed by the Villans for an undisclosed fee, England international Barkley had a brilliant Premier League season for Luton.
Touted for an England recall by many, Barkley received two Player of the Year awards after his one campaign with the Hatters. It’s fair to say that Ross Barkley rekindled his career at Kenilworth Road. Many Town supporters have also said that Barkley is the best player they’ve seen in the famous orange shirt.
Read More: Luton Town Weekly Round-Up: Departures and Friendly Confirmed
In his 37 matches for Luton, Barkley scored five times and had six assists to his name. At Villa Park, Barkley can now look forward to Champions League football.
Academy Coaches Shake-Up
Following the departure of Adrian Forbes to a new role in the United States, Alex Lawless has been given a new role as coach of the Town’s under-21s. He was the coach of the Hatters under-18s last term. Joe Deeney will now take up the role vacated by Lawless.
Both Lawless and Deeney have long associations with the Town. Lawless was a stalwart of the Conference title-winning side of a decade ago. Deeney has a long association with the Hatters as a player and coach. He was the boss of Dunstable Town until last April.
Celta Vigo Friendly Lined Up For August
On August 3rd La Liga side Celta Vigo will be the Hatters final pre-season friendly before their Championship opener against Burnley nine days later. The Spanish side will visit Kenilworth Road after finishing 13th in Spain’s top flight last season.
Read More: Luton Town Championship Challenge Embraced by Fans
Other friendlies against continental opposition have also been arranged at the Town’s Brache training ground and their training camp in Slovenia. On July 13, Danish side AGF Aarhus will play the Hatters in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Brache. Ukrainian top-flight side FC Rukh Lviv and Göztepe of the Turkish Süper Lig will be the opposition on the 16th and 20th of July in Slovenia. All four friendlies will be available to watch via live streams.
Luton’s Early Season Championship Games To Be Broadcast On Sky Sports
Five Hatters games will be broadcast by Sky Sports in August and September. The Burnley (home), Portsmouth (away) and Queens Park Rangers (home) games in August will be shown live on Sky. In September, Sky will cover two Luton Championship matches at Millwall and Plymouth Argyle, respectively.
