Mick Harford - Coach and Manager

Coach and Manager

Making his move into coaching with Wimbledon, Harford developed his skills before following his old manager Joe Kinnear, back to Luton Town following Luton's relegation to Division 3. Harford helped master-mind the successful promotion season of 2001–02, as Luton stormed to promotion back to the Second Division. Following the 2002–03 season, the club was sold to a new consortium, and Harford and Kinnear were then sacked. Harford was to be offered his job back, but he refused to work under that board.

After the owners were forced out, Harford returned to the club as Director of Football, as well as being the first-team coach. Harford helped new manager Mike Newell to a 10th place finish, and his value was proved by then Nottingham Forest manager Joe Kinnear's attempts to make him his assistant manager at Forest. Harford initially rejected the move but in November 2004, despite the contrast of fortunes both sides were displaying, with Forest fighting relegation in the Championship and Luton running away with the League One title, Harford moved onto the City Ground.

Kinnear was to last only a few more weeks at the club before the club's poor form forced him to leave the club. Harford was then appointed caretaker manager, and he performed admirably despite the problems at the club. Gary Megson was then appointed manager full time in January 2005, and Harford left the club.

Out of work for only a short while, Harford teamed up with Andy King at Swindon Town in February 2005, in a deal that was due to run until the end of the 2004–05 season. In April 2005 however, Harford was appointed the new manager of Rotherham United, whose relegation from the Championship at the end of the 2004–05 season had already been confirmed. Harford had an impressive start to his managerial career, but was sacked in December after a run of 17 games without a win. He was replaced by Alan Knill. Harford finished the season at Millwall, coaching the strikers at the club before their relegation from the Championship at the end of the 2005–06 season.

Harford then joined his former Derby County team-mate Geraint Williams at Colchester United in the summer of 2006, becoming the club's assistant manager. Harford was linked with another return to Kenilworth Road following the sacking of ex-Luton manager Mike Newell, but the job instead went to Kevin Blackwell. He left Colchester to become assistant manager at Queens Park Rangers in June 2007, before becoming caretaker after the departure of John Gregory. Harford left QPR after the appointment of Luigi De Canio.

In January 2008, Harford was unveiled as the new manager of struggling and cash-strapped Luton Town until the end of the season. He committed to stay at Luton despite the club being docked 30 points in the break before the 2008–09 season.

Harford led Luton Town to victory in the Football League Trophy final in a fiercely contested match against Scunthorpe United on 5 April 2009. The tie ended 3–2 after extra time and saw a crowd of 40,000 Luton fans make the short trip down the M1 to Wembley Stadium. However, one week later in the league, the 30-point deduction imposed on the club proved too large an obstacle to overcome, and Harford's Luton succumbed to relegation to the Football Conference. On 1 October, after a disappointing start to life in the Conference, Harford parted company with Luton Town by mutual consent.

In December 2009 Harford became assistant manager of Queens Park Rangers. After the resignation of Paul Hart after 5 games, Harford stepped up to take charge of first team affairs at QPR. He lasted until 1 March 2010 when he was replaced by Neil Warnock.

Mick Harford's appointment as assistant manager to Karl Robinson at MK Dons was announced 17 May 2012.