Hatters ‘surprised’ to hear about Naismith move

LUTON claim they only discovered that Kal Naismith had rejected their contract offer and opted to move to Bristol City when the signing of the Scot was confirmed by the Robins on Friday evening, writes James Piercy.

Naismith has signed a three-year contract in BS3, and was unveiled at Ashton Gate eight days after the Hatters had published their retained list detailing the Scot as one of three players in talks over a new contract.

Their Player of the Year was a key pillar of Nathan Jones’ side as Luton reached the Championship play-offs semi-finals, and the hope was at Kenilworth Road that the 30-yearold would extend his stay, having arrived 18 months ago from Wigan.

However, after City had teased the signing at 7.15pm on Friday with a video of kitman and club legend Scott Murray stocking a fridge full of Irn Bru on the Ashton Gate roof, Luton claim the first they knew that they had been unsuccessful in keeping the defender was when, 15 minutes later, Naismith leaned in to grab a can accompanied by the message “Kal Naismith is a Robin”, amid the sound of bagpipes playing ‘Flower of Scotland’.

“We learned that Kal Naismith has agreed to join Bristol City when his Luton Town contract comes to an end next month,” read a statement from Luton, well after Naismith, right, was confirmed by City.

“We were surprised to discover from our fellow Championship club’s announcement, without advance warning as is the usual etiquette, that the 30-year-old has rejected the opportunity of a new contract at Kenilworth Road. The Scot joined the Hatters as a free agent after leaving Wigan in January 2021, and leaves with a total of three goals from 68 matches, including 45 last season while winning two player of the year awards as Town reached the play-offs. We thank Kal for his service to the club and wish him well for the future.”

Football clubs will usually try to synchronise announcements so that both buyer and seller can deliver the message. That process can sometimes to lead to delays, as two media and administrative teams try to work in conjunction.

Under the Lansdown family, City have always been known as a club that conducts itself “by the book”, sometimes to their detriment, such is the opportunistic world of football.