New Academy roles for Alex Lawless and Joe Deeney

We are delighted to announce two new roles for former Luton Town players within our Academy as Alex Lawless takes over the Under 21s and Joe Deeney replaces him as Head Coach of the U18s.

One of the heroes of Town’s return to the EFL as Conference champions ten years ago and scorer of the goal that knocked Wolves out of the FA Cup in 2013, Lawless returned to Kenilworth Road two years ago after his first role coach with Leyton Orient. youth team.

The 39-year-old former midfielder was initially Alan McCormack’s assistant at the U18s before taking over last summer as the Irishman stepped up to the first team.

With the departure of Adrian Forbes to join new American club Texoma FC, Lawless has now taken on a new role as Senior Professional Development Coach and Loan Manager.

Academy manager Paul Benson said: “Alex will be our U21 coach this season following Forbesy’s departure to Texas. Alex worked with the U18s last season and was really impressive. He is getting better and better with his coach, he is developing.

“Alex has a development mindset for players and can also drive the high standards and behaviors that we like our lads to have.

“He knows what it takes to play for Luton Town and his knowledge and experience will be a good bridge between players playing U18 football and the first team, so we are delighted to have him at the helm of our U21 group this year.”

Former centre-back Deeney, who came through the youth ranks to make two senior appearances under Joe Kinnear in 2002/03, returns to Kenilworth Road as Under-18 head coach.

Now 40, Joe has spent 24 years in total as a hatter, initially joining the club as a schoolboy before completing his apprenticeship and turning professional. He scored in one of his LDV Vans Trophy appearances, a powerful header in a 4-3 win over Stevenage, before briefly leaving to play Non-League for Enfield.

He quickly returned to the club to cut his coaching teeth while managing the youth development phase with under-15s and 16s before leaving in December 2016 to become assistant manager at Oxford City and then top spots at Hemel Hempstead Town and Dunstable. Town, where his three-year spell as manager ended in April.

His links with the Hatters remained, however, with his coaching role in Luton Town’s youth partnership at Cedars Upper School, where pupils train full-time and play in the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League while gaining their A-level qualifications .

On Joe’s appointment, Benson added: “We are delighted to bring Joe back to the club as Under-18s coach.

“Joe has a long history with the club, having previously played and coached here and again, like Alex, I can trust Joe to deliver the right standards, values ​​and behaviors to the group.

“His reputation as a player developer is second to none and his influence on the group will be so valuable. The boys will take so much from Joe as a coach and a person, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to replace Alex in that role.”

Congratulations Alex and welcome home Joe!