Under-fire Brabin not quitting but admits future lies in the hands of the board

HATTERS manager Gary Brabin admits his future lies in the hand of the board after witnessing Town slip to yet another defeat against York City yesterday, writes Mike Simmonds.

Chants of ‘Brabin out’ rang out the instant that James Meredith notched an 86th minute winner to stretch Luton’s winless run to seven games.

The boss received yet another torrent of abuse from the Kenilworth Road faithful, while members of the board, including chief executive Gary Sweet came under fire to sack the manager too.

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When asked if he expected the board to act on his future, Brabin said: “I don’t know. I’ve got to continue my job as normal.

“I’ve given the lads arrangements for the remainder of the week and until I hear different, that’s what I’ve got to do.

“Like I keep saying, if you were to include caretaker managers, I think to put in charge a fifth manager in our third full season in the Conference, with seven games to go, I don’t think would be a fantastic decision at the moment, but I’m bound to say that as I’m the current manager.

“I haven’t spoken to any of the board, it’s going to be difficult for them as they’re supporters and are in amongst the supporters, so they’re going to be getting some stick as well.

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“As a manager it’s part an parcel of the game, but it’s difficult as the board will get it in the neck.

“I’m not happy and I can promise everyone here I will not be sleeping a wink. I’ll be going over the game, going over everything. We know there’s a lot of factors at the moment we’re battling with and against and were confident we’ll get stronger and stronger.”

For the second home game running, Brabin had to face a barrage of criticism from the home fans as he trudged down the tunnel and he admitted it was tough to take.

He said: “It kills because I am a proud man, I’ve always been a winner as a player and even as a manager. It hurts. But I understand as well.

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“The people who support the club are passionate and they probably see another failed attempt at promotion this year, but we’re still in the hunt.

“Maybe this year, everything going against us and writing us off, maybe that’s the little bit of injection we need to achieve our goal.”

Although Town are now three points from the play-offs and facing the very real chance of not making the top five at all, a cataclysmic disaster for a club of Luton’s status, Brabin still felt he was the right man to take the club forward and wouldn’t be resigning.

He continued: “If I didn’t believe in what I was doing, that would probably be the easy option, it’s not a case of doing it just to stay in a job.

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“I’m fortunate enough to be working at a club of Luton Town’s stature.

“It’s had a lot of disappointment in the last few years and I’m the man with the job of trying to get them back in the Football League.

“I always knew it was going to be difficult and I just ask people to stick with me for another couple of months, I genuinely believe we’ll get our goal of promotion.”

Despite the defeat, making it seven games without a win, Brabin praised the home crowd for the support during the game and reiterated his belief that Town could still earn promotion through the play-offs.

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He added: “I thought they were brilliant. They got behind the lads, were very supportive.

“I’ll keep saying it and I’m not being blinded by it, there’s definitely enough in that changing room to cement a play-off place and I definitely genuinely believe that we’re going to get promotion.

“If we can just ride that bit of a bad patch at moment, I know we’ll come out strong the other end and hopefully we’ll get our goal at the end of it.”

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