Five to go in Luton fire sale, and Blackwell may join them
Luton face having to field a virtual youth side in their FA Cup replay at Liverpool after a mass exodus that could yet include manager Kevin Blackwell.
The League One side could lose five key players before next Tuesday's money-spinning trip to Merseyside after being told to sell in order to raise funds.
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Left in the lurch: Blackwell has been deprived of many key players
Captain Chris Coyne has completed a £350,000 move to Colchester while midfielder Dave Edwards is joining Wolves for £675,000.
Goalkeeper Dean Brill is in talks with Hull over a £200,000 move and strike duo Calvin Andrew and Drew Talbot are on the verge of leaving for Plymouth.
It has left the cash-strapped club, who are losing £400,000 a month, short of players and, to compound matters, Kenilworth Road insiders fear the asset-stripping could go further and rob them of Blackwell after he masterminded a display that almost beat Liverpool.
Furious assistant manager Sam Ellis said: 'On Tuesday afternoon we came out of a meeting feeling we had a week's grace. We didn't know we were going to sell before then and we can't give any inkling about a squad.'
It leaves Luton with a selection dilemma ahead of Saturday's visit of table-topping Swansea and Tuesday's trip to Liverpool.
Ellis added: 'David Edwards asked Wolverhampton Wanderers whether they could put the deal off until after next Tuesday but the administrator turned down that request. They are the two biggest games this season. It would have been a good test for us if we had a strong squad.'
Colchester have also signed Phil Ifil from Tottenham along with Coyne.
The Luton captain, a 29-year-old Australian centre-half, became the Essex club's record signing while defender Ifil, 21, has also joined for a six-figure fee which could become higher than Coyne's with add-ons.
Colchester manager Geraint Williams said: 'It's great news for the club.'
