Brill thrilled to see 'legend' Harford lead Luton to the Championship last season

Former Luton goalkeeper Dean Brill was elated to see club legend Mick Harford lead the Hatters to promotion last term.

It was a year ago yesterday that Harford was at the helm, as Town reached the Championship when Peterborough United won 3-2 at Portsmouth.

The 61-year-old was only in charge after former boss Nathan Jones opted to leave Kenilworth Road and join Stoke City in January, with Harford stepping up for his second stint in the hot-seat.

Brill had been at the club during Harford’s first spell, between January 2008 and October 2009 as the club were relegated to the Conference after being deducted 30 points for financial matters well out of the former striker's control.

He did deliver a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final victory over Scunthorpe United, but admitted that taking Town up was 'redemption' on his part.

Brill thought that was never the case, saying: "Wow, what a story that was, you could not write that story.

"You’re doing really well under Nathan Jones, you look like you’re going to go up and then all of a sudden your manager gets poached and it's 'what happens next, I don’t know, let's put a legend in charge of the club.

"He got to wrong some rights, definitely not wrongs on his part, but probably put a few ghosts to bed over a club he cares for, that we all care for.

"It was nice to see him head that up, it was really good.”

Although Brill had been a regular for Leyton Orient during the last two seasons, he has managed to head back to Kenilworth Road to watch the Hatters.

He knows his chances to visit the old ground will end one day, with Town finally getting planning permission for a new 17,500 stadium at Power Court.

The keeper will be sad to Luton move away from his former stomping ground though, adding: "I have been down two or three times this year, last year was the same, so it’s nice to go down there, see some old faces.

"I’ve been going since I was 10 years old, maybe younger and the stadium plans are something everyone’s looking forward to.

"This (coronavirus) is obviously slowing it, but hopefully the season gets going again and I can take in a couple more.

"It’s really much needed (the new ground), as when we got approved for the new one, I was really excited and really excited for the town.

"Then I stopped and thought for a moment, 'oh,' because when I go, I walk through and I go past the old laundry room, and I know all the little nooks and crannies where youth team players, we used to play games with the balls.

"We used to tear around in there, the memories, so when I go back to watch a game, it’s just surreal really.

"It will be quite sad to see that go and the history that goes with it, but moving forward, it’s long overdue.

"If they can get it, it will really boost us up on a level to compete properly at the levels that we should be and want to be.

“As long as I can remember there’s been talk about it, so fingers crossed this as Gary Sweet and everyone have done unbelievable to get to this point.

"It’s a real positive and a real achievement on their part.

"So fingers crossed that can get done and we can all go and enjoy that and still remember some of the fantastic times at the Kenilworth."