Skip to content

Luton considering U18 boss Inigo Idiakez for first-team job

Inigo Idiakez was first-team coach at Derby before going to Luton
Image: Inigo Idiakez was first-team coach at Derby before joining Luton

Luton U18s boss Inigo Idiakez is among the names being considered for the first-team job at Kenilworth Road, according to Sky sources.

The Hatters are on the hunt for a successor to Nathan Jones after he took the Stoke City job - and Idiakez has enjoyed success with one of their youth teams.

The former Southampton and Derby midfielder lead his team to the EFL Youth Alliance Cup last season, beating Wigan in the final, and they are currently fifth in this season's South East Division.

Luton have had more than 60 applications for Jones' position, which has been given to club great Mick Harford on an interim basis, at least for this weekend's Sky Bet League One clash with Sunderland.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

New Stoke manager Nathan Jones admits it was an emotional decision to leave Luton but he felt it was the right time

Luton chief executive Gary Sweet spoke at Thursday's press conference alongside Harford and gave more insight into their ongoing search for a new boss.

"We've got a very finely-tuned process," he said. "It's quite a slick operation when these things happen so, given the fact that I said earlier that it didn't come as a surprise, we have clearly been doing quite discreet homework in the background.

"[That's] nothing that would be disrespectful to Nathan, but I think for any chief executive at a football club not to keep an eye on potential future candidates for manager, coaches and other football staff going forward, it would be quite unprofessional. So we've been doing that.

Also See:

Transfer Talk podcast: Download now!
Transfer Talk podcast: Download now!

The latest episode of the Transfer Talk podcast is available to download now!

"We know a lot of people in the game, we have been monitoring certain individuals, just in the same way that we monitored Nathan back then. So we are down the line; not necessarily down the line with any individual, but we also do things the right way.

"So far, just yesterday, I think it was over 60 applicants and we had probably nearly 50 before it was even announced - that's the way football works."

Play Super 6
Play Super 6

Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.

Around Sky