Nicholls wants Neilson as manager

Hatters skipper Kevin Nicholls believes the players let Mick Harford down

Luton Town captain Kevin Nicholls says that caretaker boss Alan Neilson should be given the job on a full-time basis.

Neilson has steered the Hatters to three straight league wins since Mick Harford was sacked on October 1.

And, with the Luton board due to announce Harford's successor this week, Nicholls suggests that 37-year-old Neilson must be in with a chance.

"The quickest thing they can do is give Alan Neilson the job with his staff," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"The players can only do what they do on the pitch and put the people whose choice it is under pressure.

"Obviously we are disappointed with the campaign so far.

"We feel we let the old manager down," added Nicholls, following Saturday's 1-0 win at Altrincham. "But we are re-paying the fans and the caretaker manager with nine points out of nine.

"The players have given a good account of themselves in the last three games, and that is solely because we are happy with the management team."

After starting his career with Newcastle United, then having spells at Southampton, Fulham and Grimsby Town (on loan), former Welsh international defender Neilson first arrived at Kenilworth Road as a player in 2002, making 57 appearances in three years.

He then went into non-league with Tamworth and Salisbury City before returning to Luton as youth development coach in June 2008.

And, although Luton have been strongly linked with the likes of Kettering manager Mark Cooper and Torquay boss Paul Buckle, Nicholls insists that Neilson has already made a real impact.

"Training has been a bit different," he said. "We seem to be on the front foot quite a lot and the tempo is a bit more intense.

"Perhaps the formation is a bit different, we've tinkered with it at times.

"We've been a lot more positive in games. We've left ourselves open at times but it's working at the moment."