Luton Town’s Matt Bloomfield has the steepest hill to climb. His club was tumbled out of the Championship on the last day of last season’s campaign. Although still disappointed, this underlines Bloomfield’s serious dedication to rebuilding and looking ahead. He writes movingly about that painful experience, but he is nonetheless heartened by the prospect of a more competitive campaign this time around.
Following relegation, Bloomfield was forced to spend a lot of time thinking about what happened during the season. He shared deeply in the raw emotions regarding the team’s collapse. Almost immediately, he shifted his focus to what lies ahead. On bank holiday Monday, Bloomfield was shown around by CEO Gary Sweet. They spent their time focusing on tactics, logistics and other matters in preparation for the coming season.
Luton Town had quite the run to end last season on an impressive high. Bloomfield noted that they played ‘playoff caliber’ during the last stanza.
“The last quarter of the season, we were in play-off form. Only two teams earned more points than us in the final 10 games.” – Matt Bloomfield
Immediate Actions Post-Relegation
When last season finally wrapped up, there wasn’t much time for Luton Town’s front office to relax. They had to work fast to assess their squad and plan for the summer transfer window. Bloomfield, in a statement on the topic, stressed the importance of fast action in light of the relegation.
“So there was sadness, yes, but also something to build on. Feelings were raw, but we had to move quickly. We had to put plans in place and move on.” – Matt Bloomfield
The four-person team spent at least six hours poring over player performances and deciding who would continue with the club. This included strategic planning around likely departures, while at the same time mapping out the talent they needed to prioritize keeping. Bloomfield expressed, as they found their way through a dark time, the value of looking ahead.
“We had to assess who might leave, who we wanted to keep, who we were willing to lose, and who we absolutely didn’t want to lose.” – Matt Bloomfield
With negotiations starting for the 2025/26 season nearly as soon as relegation was confirmed, Luton Town decided to take a positive approach. Meanwhile, returning players such as Kal Naismith have developed a deep bond with the club. With other vital players like Jordan Clark and Nahki Wells on board too, they are intent on the double whammy of pipping their rivals to a greater cutting edge.
Building for Success
Looking up the road, Bloomfield’s headspace is very much on developing a more united squad, committed to performing a high-pressing, attacking brand of football. He understands the increased pressure that accompanies playing in a brand-new conference.
“There will be a lot more emphasis on us in this league than in previous years,” – Matt Bloomfield
He says cutting through the noise with clear, simple messages will be key to their success.
“But that’s something we need to embrace. Nothing will change in our approach. We won’t become over-elaborate. We’ll just stick to what we believe in and try to do it the best we can.” – Matt Bloomfield
He still struggles when it comes to implementing new guys into the team’s chemistry. He’s still optimistic that they’ll be able to adapt and deliver a strong performance.
“That’s always the challenge when you put a new group together. How quickly can you mould them into a cohesive unit?” – Matt Bloomfield
In attack, Bloomfield hopes for a fluid, dynamic, and organized approach that isn’t overly complex. He is passionate about laying the cement slab upon which Luton Town can boogie.
“We want to play front-foot football. Energetic, enthusiastic, structured.” – Matt Bloomfield
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