Exclusive: Luton Town urged to replace Matt Bloomfield with ex-QPR boss - He's doing "great things" | OneFootball

Sky Sports pundit and former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie shared his ideal Matt Bloomfield replacement at Luton Town exclusively to FLW

Luton Town will be initiating a managerial search after deciding to part ways with Matt Bloomfield following a mixed start to the 2025/26 EFL League One campaign, in which they have fallen some way short of representing likely promotion contenders.

Bloomfield put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year contract back in January to join from League One Wycombe Wanderers, but was unable to preserve the Hatters' Championship status as they suffered consecutive relegations from the Premier League to English football's third-tier.

Having retained a number of players who were present in Luton's promotion to the Premier League and subsequent season in the top-flight, though, expectations were rightfully high at Kenilworth Road ahead of this season, which they appeared to be preparing for in stronger health than fellow freshly-relegated duo Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle.

However, Luton have struggled for consistency so far this term, winning five, losing five and drawing just once in their opening 11 matches.

While defeats to two promotion contenders in Bradford City and Cardiff back in August could perhaps be excused, three losses inside the last month to Plymouth, Lincoln City and Stevenage, along with a 2-2 draw away at 23rd-placed Blackpool, intensified pressure and scrutiny surrounding Bloomfield's future, and the ex-Wycombe stalwart has now been relieved of his duties as the Hatters bid to kick-start their promotion bid under fresh stewardship.

Saturday's 2-0 defeat to local rivals and league leaders Stevenage, of course, was ultimately the straw that broke the camel's back, leaving Luton in 11th position and forcing the club's hierarchy into dismissing Bloomfield, and they will now spend the international break running the rule over managerial candidates.

Lee Hendrie urges Luton Town to replace Matt Bloomfield with ex-QPR boss Gareth Ainsworth

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit and former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie identified his ideal replacement for Bloomfield.

In Hendrie's view, Luton should consider an approach for Gareth Ainsworth, whose Gillingham side are currently fourth in League Two. Hendrie cited Ainsworth's promotion-winning experience in League One, with the 52-year-old having historically taken Wycombe up to the Championship in the 2019/20 campaign.

Ainsworth has since undertaken less-fruitful stints with QPR and Shrewsbury Town, but is perhaps redeeming his stock at Gillingham, where he took the reins earlier this year, and could represent a shrewd potential replacement for Bloomfield if he's open to jumping ship back to League One.

"Luton haven't got off to a flyer as they expected, have they?" Hendrie told FLW.

"Particularly that they brought lots of players in and brought lots of players out. But yeah, I thought it was inevitable with the results that have been going against them.

"I think there are going to be a lot of managers that will be touted round. Personally, I know that Gareth Ainsworth is doing great things at Gillingham, I think his name would have to be thrown into the hat.

"He knows that league promotion-wise, it's got to be someone who will fit the way Luton play. So it'll be interesting to see who they appoint, but I think Ainsworth would be a really good appointment if he was available to do so."

Luton Town can rescue League One promotion bid with right Matt Bloomfield replacement

It can be easy to forget that the campaign remains very much in its infancy, with no shortage of time remaining for Luton to resurrect their rightful promotion aspirations with a fresh sense of direction and a manager capable of getting the best out of what is a talented and proven third-tier outfit.

Ainsworth has often made his sides tough to beat throughout his career, which means he could indeed prove an option worth mulling over in the coming weeks.

His name hasn't been floated too much by supporters, who have touted the likes of David Wagner, Luke Williams and former Arsenal sensation Jack Wilshere as potential candidates, and it will be interesting to see what direction Luton decide to head in.

The Hatters already have plenty of ground to make up if they want to contend for automatic promotion, although they remain just three points shy of sixth-placed Huddersfield Town and a play-off finish is perfectly on the cards if the right appointment is made.