'The feeling of being wanted' - Matt Bloomfield on joining Luton Town from Wycombe
Former Wycombe Wanderers manager Matt Bloomfield has spoken for the first time since leaving the club for Luton Town.
The 40-year-old, who took charge of his final game of the Chairboys on January 10, was announced as the Hatters’ new man in charge just four days later.
He replaces the outgoing Rob Edwards who left on January 9.
READ MORE: Matt Bloomfield leaves Wycombe Wanderers for Luton Town
Prior to the latter’s departure, delegates from Luton were spotted at some of Wycombe’s home games this month, which includes the recent 2-0 victory against Portsmouth.
Speaking on his move to Kenilworth Road, Bloomfield said he was happy to join a club that has made him feel ‘feel very comfortable and very wanted’.
He also said that he wanted to ‘work with people who want the best for their football club’, indicating there might have been some tension between the departing manager and Wanderers’ new board.
Bloomfield exits Buckinghamshire with the Chairboys in second place in the League One table, with only seven defeats from 35 games this season.
Speaking on his move from Wycombe to Luton, he told the club's website: “It’s a genuine honour and a privilege to be here, to be appointed as manager of this incredible club.
“I’m really, really proud.
"It’s been a busy few days, a very busy weekend but I’ve met the recruitment team, met Gary and spent some time with the board.
“The fact that they’re all Luton supporters and that they care so much about their football club shone through, and the fact that they had a real big desire for me to join our football club also shone through, so I’m incredibly proud and very, very happy to be here.
“That made me feel very comfortable and very wanted, which is huge for me.
"I want to work with people who care and fans who also care – and they certainly do here.
"I want to work with people who want the best for their football club, and that’s more than evident with Gary, the chairman and the board of directors.
“That feeling that they gave me and the feeling of being wanted, how much research they’ve done into me and the football team that we’ve produced at Colchester and Wycombe, and the knowledge base of what I stand for, who I am and what we’ve tried to produce in our football team left me in no uncertain times that this was the right move at the right time.”
Assistant manager Richard Thomas and goalkeeper coach Lee Harrison have also left, meaning development boss Sam Grace will take interim charge of the Adams Park side.
Grace will be in the dugout for Wycombe’s Berks & Bucks Cup match against Beaconsfield Town this evening [January 14].
Luton's CEO, Gary Sweet, added: "“Before anything else, I would like to thank Wycombe for their co-operation in ensuring a swift and smooth transition.
"It may be flattering to be on the receiving end, it’s never pleasant, but we have made sure that we’ve gone above and beyond to compensate Wycombe to secure his services, along with his trusted coaching team."
