Mick Harford returns to Kenilworth Road!

The 56-year-old former Hatters player, coach and manager, will work alongside manager Nathan Jones and chief executive Gary Sweet to establish a new scouting network for Luton Town.

Harford will be responsible for building a database of players to identify and help recruit talented players as Sweet said: “This is a brand-new role and one that we feel is perfect for Mick and for Luton Town.

“I don’t know anybody better to identify talent for this club than Mick.

“Very few people know more about the footballing traditions of this club than Mick following his two successful spells as a player in the top-flight for us – and we feel he knows the right players and characters we need to aspire to where we want to be.

“As a board we felt we could have performed better on the pitch and could have provided more entertainment to our supporters since our promotion back to the Football League, and feel that together with Nathan – whose appointment is fundamental and crucial in our bid to re-establish our footballing DNA – Mick will play an important role in the future of our club.

“It’s the first time we have specifically placed emphasis on such a role at Kenilworth Road. It will be Mick’s task of growing his own scouting network and recommending players he believes match Nathan’s thinking.

“We feel given Mick’s previous experience and success in identifying players will be of great use to us and Nathan - and who better than a person of Mick’s ilk?

“Nathan will, of course, have his own targets but we see Mick supporting him from now in attracting the best and most appropriate for this club. There is a responsibility for looking after our long-term objectives with thorough research and due consideration made on all signings.”

Meanwhile, Harford, who racked up 92 goals in 217 games during his time with the club and led the team to the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy victory in 2009 as manager, added: “It’s an absolute pleasure to be back, I’m looking forward to the challenge.

“I’ve come in with a blank sheet of paper to restructure the scouting network, i.e. get scouts in and around the country, profile players and identify the type of player Nathan wants.

“The way he we wants to play his football is going to be a different philosophy to past managers who have been here and myself, Nathan and Gary are all of the same thinking.

“We’re looking to bring in young, hungry and energetic players, hopefully people with value, players who are on their way up rather than on their way down – and who’ll fit into the ethos of what Nathan wants to build and the ethos of the way Luton Town want to play their football.”