Troubled Hatters crown Harford as new boss

NEW Luton boss Mick Harford hopes to bring stability to Luton after being appointed as the new manager.

Just hours after Kevin Blackwell — who was due to leave the club next month — had his contract terminated, Harford was unveiled as a replacement until the end of the season.

The former Hatters striker has returned to the club’s coaching staff for the third time and he said: “In the short-term, I need to get stability back into the Coca-Cola League One club.

“There has been a lot of trauma and turmoil over the last few months and I have been brought in to stabilise and galvanise the players.”

Harford’s appointment was the culmination of a whirlwind 24 hours for the Hatters, with the club’s administrators announcing they had chosen the LTFC 2020 consortium as preferred bidder to takeover the club.

They were then beaten 5-0 at Liverpool in an FA Cup third round replay on Tuesday night, before Blackwell, his assistant Sam Ellis and coach John Carver were dismissed with immediate effect.

Blackwell was unhappy with the way administrators dealt with matters at the club in recent weeks and asked why he had been sacked, the former Leeds manager said: “Effectively, I think because we made a statement about the club and players and the way it was handled.

“I only found out about this when I heard from the administrators this morning saying my services were no longer required.”

But Luton-born Blackwell gave his backing to the 2020 consortium, which includes former TV presenter Nick Owen.

“I hope they move the club forward, make their own appointment and get some stability,” Blackwell said.

Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard has revealed he begged Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez not to take him off against the Hatters as he wanted to get a hat-trick. The England midfielder got his double wish as Liverpool secured a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup after a 5-0 victory against the League One side in Tuesday night’s replay at Anfield.

With Liverpool coasting, Benitez planned to give the club captain a rest.

But with two goals already to his name, Gerrard asked to stay on for a few more minutes.

Benitez gave in and the team’s talisman scored his third of the night and Liverpool’s final goal.

“The manager called me over and said he was about to take me off,” Gerrard said. “I pleaded with him to give me five minutes more because I wanted to get my hat-trick.

“I’m made up he let me because it’s always nice to get three goals.”

The second hat-trick of Gerrard’s Liverpool career took his tally for the season to 15 goals.

Dutch starlet Ryan Babel, who opened the scoring last night, admits nothing his team-mate does surprises him. “It’s almost normal Stevie gives a performance like that,” he said. “He took his goals very well and it is obvious he is a really important player for us.”

Babel also paid tribute to Jamie Carragher after he made his 500th appearance for the club.

The 21-year-old Dutchman said: “He’s a great player with a lot of experience. He always gives 100%.

“It is a great achievement. He is always encouraging the team and giving tactical advice. He is a major figure at Liverpool.”

Babel believes Liverpool can go into their next league game against Aston Villa on Monday with confidence.

“It’s good that we now have a whole week to recover and prepare. It won’t be an easy game but after this win against Luton, it should give us a lot of confidence going into the match.”