Luton appoint Jack Wilshere as new manager

FORMER ARSENAL and England midfielder Jack Wilshere has returned to his first club, Luton, as manager.

The League One club confirmed on Mondaythat  Wilshere, 33, was back at the Hatters after starting his career in their centre of excellence before joining Arsenal at the age of nine.

Wilshere, who won 34 England caps, will be assisted by fellow former England international Chris Powell, with League Two club Walsall confirming he had left them to join Luton.

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Wilshere served as interim head coach of Norwich at the tail end of last season, having also worked as an academy coach at Arsenal.

“It’s a huge honour and a privilege to be named Luton Town manager,” Wilshere told Luton’s official website.

“It feels like a full-circle moment for me. I was eight when I first came to Luton as a boy, so I guess you could say it’s fate that my first full-time club managerial position is at this club.

“I couldn’t be more delighted to be here — I can’t wait to manage this football club.”

The Hatters sacked Matt Bloomfield as manager last week, with the club in 11th place.

Meanwhile, Sligo Rovers have confirmed that Steve Feeney has stepped down as first-team coach of their women’s team.

In a statement released through the club, the Sligo native stated, “I am at a point in my life where I get greater fulfilment and joy being present at my children’s games and activities than being at my own games and missing theirs”, he outlines.

“The season before this, when I wasn’t involved with Rovers, it gave me much more of a chance to be present with them at a lot more. Coming back to Rovers this season, it made me realise how much more I want to be there watching my kids enjoy their sports and their activities. As a manager of a Premier Division side, it just doesn’t allow you the time to do that, unfortunately. 

“But it’s been a huge privilege for me to represent Rovers again. I loved playing for the club, and I loved managing at the club too. It’s always so hard not to stay involved, but I will be supporting Rovers at all levels in 2026 and beyond.”