Luton Town: Nathan Doyle thinks Hatters will attract high quality new players this summer

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Nathan Doyle believes Luton will be able to attract the calibre of players that will help fire the club to promotion next term.

The Hatters came up disappointingly short in their first season back in the Football League for five years, finishing eighth after spending much of the season well placed in the top seven.

Doyle, however, recognised the size and potential of the club when he joined in September after turning down a new deal with League One Bradford City

He said: “I was playing in League One but Luton is not a League Two club. We are looking to progress it and take it further on than League Two. We were unfortunate not to do it this year but next year hopefully we can do it.”

With a club like Luton, one of the big attractions for new recruits is the fan base, with home attendances regularly around the 10,000 mark, second in League Two only to Portsmouth who were a Premier League club only five years ago.

“Ten thousand fans at a League Two club most weeks is tremendous,” said Doyle, adding: “The support that we get away as well is absolutely tremendous. You see them going to Morecambe, Hartlepool, and it’s not one or two hundred, they travel in their thousands to go there and support the team.

“If lads [transfer targets] can’t see that then I don’t know what will draw them to the club.”

There are no regrets for Doyle and his first season with Luton saw him named player of the year, having picked up the same gong for former club Bradford last year.

He said: “I’ve loved it. There’s not a day gone by where I’ve thought I’ve made the wrong decision. I’ve made a great decision, coming to a big football club. Luton’s not a small football club.

“The gaffer was a massive part in that. He played his part and he’s managed me well on and off the pitch. Dave Richardson, the fitness guy, has also managed me well.

“To get awarded by the fans with the player of the year award, I’m massively grateful. But I think, with the season we’ve had, there could have been 12 or 13 of us that could have picked up that award.

“Jonathan Smith, he picked up a few awards as well and he’s done tremendously this year. He’s worked really hard after he had a nasty injury last year. The amount of effort he puts in, on and off the pitch, is tremendous.

“The fans see it on the pitch but the lads do work hard on and off the pitch.

“I collected that award on behalf of all the team, not just myself.”