The2000–01 season was the 115th season in the history ofLuton Town Football Club, the club's 80th consecutive year inthe Football League and its 83rd overall. Luton ended the season relegated from the Second Division, dropping into the basement level of League football for the first time since the1967–68 season. The club went through a total of three managers following the departure ofLennie Lawrence; firstlyRicky Hill, thenLil Fuccillo, and eventually settling onIrishmanJoe Kinnear. Under Kinnear's management, Luton underwent an initial resurgence, winning five of out of his first seven games. However, they failed to win any of their games in the final quarter of the season and ultimately slipped into theThird Division. Luton won only nine league games all season, setting a club record for the fewest wins over a 46-game season.
This article covers the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001.
One of new chairman Mike Watson-Challis' first acts was, on 4 July, to sack managerLennie Lawrence and look to appoint his own man.[1] Ex-player and fan favouriteRicky Hill was appointed a week later, and was provided with the resources to build his own squad.[2] One signing was that of goalkeeperMark Ovendale fromAFC Bournemouth, who cost £425,000; the most the club had spent on a player since the1995–96 season when they were competing in theFirst Division.[3] Ovendale struggled to make an impact,[4] which was the story of most of Hill's acquisitions, who included among their number untested foreign players Friedrich Breitenfelder, Petri Helin and Kent Karlsen.
Hill's reign began with a defeat toNotts County and did not improve from there; one win in their first ten league games left Luton in the relegation zone and the fans voicing their displeasure.[5] A penalty shootout victory overPeterborough United in theLeague Cup set up a tie withPremier League sideSunderland, but Luton collapsed to a 5–1 aggregate defeat. One further league win followed, but even more defeats left Luton in 23rd place by early November. Hill resigned on 15 November to be replaced by his assistant, another former Luton player,Lil Fuccillo.[6]John Moore, who had led the club to their highest-ever league finish in the1986–87 season and was in charge of the youth team, was installed as Fuccillo's assistant.[6] Luton's fortunes failed to improve under this tenure, suffering seven further league defeats, though a run to the Third Round of theFA Cup did offer some respite.
With the club failing to impress on the pitch and facing the prospect of relegation, Watson-Challis acted to recruit a Director of Football to oversee "all football matters".[7] FormerWimbledon managerJoe Kinnear was appointed to this role on 8 February, but his first act was to immediately demote Fuccillo to assistant and place himself in charge.[8] Kinnear's arrival prompted an initial resurgence in form – Luton won five of their next seven games and were one point away from 20th position, and safety, by 6 March. However, they failed to win again during the campaign and, on 24 April, were relegated to theThird Division for the first time in 33 years following a 1–0 loss toRotherham United.[9]
With the season drawing to a close, Kinnear signed strikerSteve Howard from nearbyNorthampton Town for a fee of £50,000, released five players, and transfer listed four others.[10]
^George was born inLuton,England, but also qualified to represent theRepublic of Ireland internationally through his mother and represented Ireland atU-21 level.
^Boyce was born inAylesbury,England, but also qualified to representBarbados internationally through his parents and would make his international debut forBarbados in March 2008.
^Howard was born inDurham,England, but also qualified to representScotland internationally and would make his international debut forScotland B in November 2007.
Matthew Taylor
[14]Liam George
Petri Helin
Stuart Fraser
Trésor Kandol
Keith Rowland
Lee Nogan
Kent Karlsen
Friedrich Breitenfelder
NAC Breda
Efe Sodje
Northern Spirit
