Luton were left holding up the League One pack finishing the season rock bottom and condemned to League Two football.
The Hatters actually started the season strongly winning three of their first six games to slide into 12th spot and progressing straight through to the fourth round of the Carling Cup with wins over Dagenham, Sunderland and Charlton.
They sustained a midtable berth but the ten-point deduction handed out in November knocked them into the drop zone, four points away from safety.
Ten points from their four Christmas games saw them within three points of the clear but after playing Liverpool in the FA Cup, the Hatters season fell apart at the seams.
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Town held Rafa's Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road which was the start of a 15-game barren spell without a win.
This poor run and all the financial concerns led to the eventual departure of Kevin Blackwell as boss with the Hatters only above Port Vale on goal difference.
Four without defeat including wins over Oldham and Crewe temporarily restore hope but under Mick Harford the bridge was too far as they faced relegation with defeat at home to Brighton midway through April.
Six straight losses ensured they finished rock bottom of the pile.
After plunging into administration there was realistically never a way back with star defender Chris Coyne being sold for £350,000 to try and ease the problems.
Chris Perry ended up the only centre-half on the Luton books and this was never going to work.
Manager...
Mick Harford is a Luton Town legend to say the very least.
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The 49-year-old made 139 appearences for the Hatters scoring over goals before moving to Derby County in the summer of 1990.
He is a real fans favourite, the type of manager every fan at the club is despreate to see succeed.
He is talked about in the bracket of the greatest ever Luton player the club has had but as a manager he has yet to produce the fairytale all the supporters would love.
His record in management is still to be proven and although he could do little to prevent Town from falling out of the third tier, he made very little change at all in truth.
Next season is a massive one for him as he looks to secure the club's future with a solid campaign in League Two. His aims to balance the books may be as big a job as that on the field.
Players to watch...
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The players to watch at the moment are probably the players who will not be at the club by the time the start of the season comes around in August.
Striker Sam Parkin is an experienced marksman who would be tipped to score plenty of goals in League Two next term but keeping him at the club could be a massive job.
Likewise, David Bell and Matthew Spring are players, who if retained, would be sure to do well in the fourth tier.
But with Luton's current financial woe, and a predicted mass exodus likely, you would have to look to the younger members of the squad who could break in to provide the quality next season.
Manager Harford blooded in several young guns towards the end of the League One campaign after relegation was already sealed. Exciting pacey Ryan Charles and right-back Ed Asafu-Adjaye looked the brightest of the bunch.
Strengths...
Luton are a club blessed with tradition and good history as a 'big' club.
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It means they could go further and continue to progress.
The local support for the team is strong and a promotion bid could soon gather pace. Do not be surprised to see their home games sold out if results turn their way.
Weaknesses...
There is simply not enough time to re-build the financial mess at the club.
Manager Harford has already said in the press every player at the club is up for sale if the price is right, so the destiny of the side is very much out of his control.
The Hatters must trim the wage bill quickly to resolve their money matters, and with such serious implications looming, problems on the pitch could follow.
The fact that just staying up may be deemed a success owing to certain factors, their fragile state makes the chances of success hard to see.
Crucial factor...
As with Bournemouth, Luton need to avoid a points deduction to as good as make or break their season.
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The thought of as high as 15 points deducted is enough to completely derail their season and maybe even their Football League status. Ken Bates bucked the trend at Leeds but Luton may not have the power to get out of trouble after such a set-back.
The outcome is still very much unclear and worrying times lie ahead.
How will they fare in League Two...
Take your guess. Even with all the sources in football, it is hard to predict what will happen to Luton.
The fact that they still boost some youth products at the club could be their saving grace.
With players not signing deals and others likely to leave, I am not sure there is a great deal of optimism in the air.
NCM Prediction...
With or without the points deduction, Mick Harford faces a heck of a job to keep fans happy at Kenilworth Road. If they are deducted points, they will just beat the drop with an extra bit of quality to the sides around them. But, if they begin on an even slate a solid midtable finish is likely. The play-offs may be too big of an ask with the club's turmoil state.