Luton Town fan’s view: Who should leave Kenilworth Road and who should come in?

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Luton Town fan Jack Hollands speculates on potential comings and goings at Luton Town this summer.

Speculation will be rife around Kenilworth Road this summer and you can bet it will go long on into next season as well. With clubs now naming their transfer listed players, their free agents and players who they’ve offered new deals to, I’m sure there will be lots of comings and goings, none more so than at the home of Luton Town FC.

With a rumoured 19 players set to leave the Hatters this summer, I wanted to take a look at those who are understood to be set for the exits in the coming weeks. It’s been noted that the following players’ contracts are due to expire as of June 1 2015: Shaun Whalley (MF), Andy Parry (MF), Danny Fitzsimons (DF), Jim Stevenson (MF), Fraser Franks (DF) and six youth players.

A lot has been said about the size of Luton’s squad this season and in truth it is far too big for a club of its stature. It’s now time for change and the restructure of the team must begin straight away. I believe I speak for the majority of Luton supporters when I say that if the above named ‘first team players’ were to leave, not many would batter an eyelid.

I believe a case could have been made for Alex Wall, who has announced that he will be leaving, however. With his barnstorming approach to the game and his willingness to do well whenever given the opportunity, the centre forward has won a lot over at Luton this season, and last.

His only goal of the 2014/15 campaign came in October 2014 at near neighbours Stevenage FC, it was the winner that day and his name could be heard sung long down the A1. Since then his playing time has been restricted to just seven appearances, coupled with a loan spell at Bristol Rovers where he never really got going. I see something raw in Alex Wall but now at the age of 24- it’s time to show it.

Andy Drury and Mark Cullen are another two who are in contract but talks will be held in the next couple of weeks with regards to their long term futures.

Mark Cullen expressed his desire to leave Luton in February 2015… or did he? It was all very confusing for everyone as in a post-match interview after the 3-2 away defeat to AFC Wimbledon, manager John Still told the media that the striker had asked to leave as a higher level club had expressed some interest.

It was rumoured at the time to be Peterborough United, a club that had managerial issues of their own. Only a few days later ex-Posh manager Darren Ferguson was sacked and it looked like the deal for Cullen had fallen through. Since then he hasn’t been the same player in my opinion. His goal scoring dried up dramatically and his all round game left a lot to be desired. I can’t make my mind up on Mark Cullen just yet and that seems to be the case with the Luton faithful.

Andy Drury – it could be said that he was the most anticipated signing Luton had pulled off for a long, long while last summer. His time with Luton during 2010-11 saw him play 23 times and score six goals, including an absolute peach at Charlton in the FA Cup that year.

He rapidly became a fan-favourite but the bright lights of the Championship and Ipswich Town were to turn his head during the January transfer window of 2011. He returned to a messiah’s welcome but hasn’t lived up to his price tag nor expectation.

£100,000 is a lot of money to a club like Luton and with that brings expectancy. Having said that is it any coincidence that when Drury has played for the Hatters this year we’ve won? There’s no doubt he’s a great player and definitely at League Two level. He has the chance to stand out like a sore thumb among other midfielders, I just don’t believe he’s done that often enough this year.

In terms of coming in, well… do we look into the lower leagues i.e. non-league for another Andre Gray or do we go all-out for experience this year? I’d like to open the question to you: who would you like to see don the famous orange shirt next season? You can leave a comment in the box below or get me on Twitter- @HatterHollands.