Premier League: Luton Town’s dream promotion brings $366m

Luton Town’s promotion bid hit a speed bump when Southampton prised away their beloved manager Nathan Jones earlier this season, but they have now returned the favour by taking the south-coast club’s place in the Premier League.

Jones had led Luton to automatic promotion from League Two and even a Championship playoff semi-final in two spells but left in November when they were ninth, leaving Luton in a predicament.

Enter Rob Edwards, the latest victim of Watford’s managerial revolving door policy, and Luton had no qualms in handing the man who coached their rivals a three-and-a-half-year contract.

“Let’s be honest … if we avoided everyone with a connection to our adversaries our choice would be somewhat more limited,” club CEO Gary Sweet said at the time.

The rest is history as Luton finished third in the Championship and qualified for the playoffs on the back of a 14-match unbeaten run.

They saw off Sunderland in the semi-finals after losing the first leg before beating Coventry City on penalties in a nerve-shredding final at Wembley to return to the top flight after 31 years.

“We (thought we) are in trouble because when we were taking some in practice we were rubbish,” Carlton Morris, Luton’s top scorer, said.

“It’s nice for all the boys to step up today (Saturday). I said in our huddle that it is time to be men and step up. We scored six out of six penalties!”

Survival in the top flight would lead to a financial windfall of $366 million according to Deloitte but Edwards is keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground, saying they will be ‘sensible’. We’re not going to go mental,” Edwards said.

“We realise it’s going to be the biggest challenge ever.

“It’s the best league with the best managers, the best players. We know how tough it is going to be.

“The fans have seen some dark, dark times. It’s great that we can give them a smile.”