Luton have appointed Rob Edwards as their new manager.

The former Watford and Forest Green boss succeeds Nathan Jones, who left Kenilworth Road for Premier League Southampton last week.

The 39-year-old has agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Hatters.

The appointment comes two months after Edwards was sacked by Championship rivals Watford.

Edwards, who guided Forest Green to the League Two title last season, had been in charge at Vicarage Road for just 10 games.

He takes over a Luton side 10th in the table at the break for the World Cup, just three points behind fourth-placed Watford.

Edwards told the club’s website: “I’m absolutely delighted to be here. It’s a really exciting opportunity to manage this great football club and I can’t wait to get started.”

Former Wolves and Wales defender Edwards first stepped into coaching with the Under-18s at Molineux before progressing to the Under-23s and then taking on roles with England’s Under-16s and Under-20s.

He left to take over at Forest Green in 2021 and immediately impressed as he led the Gloucestershire club to promotion to League One level for the first time in their history.

That brought him to the attention of Watford as they searched for a new manager following relegation from the Premier League, but his stay with the Hornets proved short-lived.

Edwards said: “From the outside looking in at Luton Town, you see such a well-run football club, a club that’s growing, moving forward and competing at the right end of the Championship.

“It’s a club that did fantastically well last season and is doing so well now. When the opportunity opened up, straight away, you see there is a terrific group of players there and a club that’s only looking in one direction.

“Then, I come in and start meeting everyone, and you get such a warm feeling. You can see it’s a club that puts its people and supporters first. I feel a lot of positivity around the place, and I’m really thankful to be given the chance to be part of it.”

Edwards’ first match in charge will be an away game at Middlesbrough on December 10.

Town chief executive Gary Sweet hopes fans will put aside any reservations they might have about appointing a former Watford manager.

He said: “We fully understand the concerns some supporters may have with his previous club, but the one action Watford did that impressed us in recent times was their appointment of Rob!

“We’re confident that with such a limited association with them, Rob will very quickly feel much more a member of our tight club here at Kenilworth Road.”