Online Reporter
IT took Marvelous Nakamba’s Luton Town 10 years to climb from non-league football to the English Premier League, but just two to slide halfway back again.
Zimbabwe captain Nakamba plays for Luton Town.
Putting their faith in 33-year-old Jack Wilshere, with just two games of senior head-coach experience behind him, to arrest that slide may therefore be regarded by some as a brave decision.
Experience, though, is no guarantee of anything in football as Steve Bruce found out in his recent spell in charge of Blackpool, which came to an end two days before Matt Bloomfield was sacked by Luton.
Bloomfield had Wycombe competing for a top-two place in League One just 12 months ago, a situation he was unable to replicate at Kenilworth Road.
There are many intangibles in building a successful team but Luton believe that in Wilshere, they now have a young manager capable of re-energising the club and pushing them back in the right direction of travel.
But what made them come to the conclusion that Jack’s the lad for them?
When Wilshere was recruited by Norwich City in November last year, sporting director Ben Knapper described him as “one of the brightest and most exciting young coaches in the country”. Having been put in charge of Arsenal’s Under-18 side following the end of his playing career, he guided them to the FA Youth Cup final in 2022-23.
And when the Canaries sacked Johannes Hoff Thorup in April, it was to Wilshere they turned to oversee the final two games of the campaign — a goalless draw at Middlesbrough and a 4-2 home win over Cardiff City.
Despite that positive start, the Championship club did not feel he was ready to be given the job on a full-time basis, but the former England midfielder was unwilling to step back into a supporting role. “Jack made a big impact here in the time he was with us. He built great connections with our players and staff, and we’re all sad to see him move on,” Knapper said following Wilshere’s decision to leave Carrow Road.
“He leaves with our very best wishes and we’ll follow his progress closely. I’ve no doubt he’ll go on to have a very successful coaching career in the senior game.”
Returning to the club he was first involved with as a schoolboy gives Wilshere the opportunity to see if Knapper was right.
Finding a system to bring the best out of a squad containing several summer signings was one of the major headaches for Bloomfield — and that will undoubtedly be one of the first orders of business for Wilshere as he settles in.
But what kind of a manager are Luton getting?
BBC Radio Norfolk’s Norwich City commentator Rob Butler believes he will be a good fit for a club with a family feel, having taken an interest in youngsters and players with disabilities and additional needs, as well as the first team, at Carrow Road.
“He felt really strongly about that, so that says a lot about what Jack Wilshere is like as a person,” Butler told BBC Three Counties Radio.
“It’s difficult to judge (him) after two games. They were both dead rubbers, but there was a good win against Cardiff City, a team that got relegated. He certainly came across well on matchdays and preview warm-ups we did with him.
“A lot of Norwich fans bought into the idea that he might get the job (permanently) because what we saw in those two games was a togetherness — we spoke to players who said they really respected Jack, he’s really easy to work with.” There is also Wilshere’s record of developing young talent at Arsenal to take into consideration. “What he did at Arsenal was great — he brought through some incredible players that Mikel Arteta is now using in massive Premier League and Champions League games so that speaks for itself,” Butler added. — BBC Sport/Zimpapers Sports Hub
