Mike Watson-Challis

Life President

Mike was formerly a director at the club, but having left and then become the chairman of non-league Baldock Town, he returned as the Luton Town chairman in May 2000, buying out Cliff Bassett's 60% share in the club.  However, Cliff did remain on the board as a director for a period after this, before he eventually left the club.

Mike bought out Cliff Bassett for an undisclosed fee as the club looked to secure their long-term financial future, and as a life long supporter of the club, he was obviously pleased to return, saying," I am delighted to be back.  I aim to bring the club true stability and consistency as well as developing mutually beneficial relationships with local businesses, the council and the fans and youngsters in the region.  My personal aim and ambition is to ensure the club returns to its former strength and glory."

Mike immediately showed the plans he has for the club when at a press conference to unveil himself, he said he wanted promotion to the Premiership in 2 seasons.  "We've gone from the dark days and we need to open up to the future.  My ambition is to see the club playing at the highest level and that is the Premiership.  We need to take it one step at a time but I certainly want to be in the First Division immediately and then the Premiership."

He assured supporters that the financial difficulties of the past were firmly behind them, and that money would be made available for team strengthening.  Mike outlined his plans for a new stadium, a major factor in the club's future, but one that has caused the club serious problems in the past.  The council remain committed to helping Luton find a new home should the government reconsider their decision not to widen the M1 and they said they were ready to provide Mike with all the guidance he needed to find a new site.

A spokesperson from the council said: "We now look forward to working with the new owners and FLAG (Fans of Luton Action Group) to secure a new stadium and maximize the benefits the football club can offer the Luton community."

Previous owner Cliff Bassett also agreed to hand over all the information he had on ground relocation and FLAG were keen to have an active role in any discussions.

However, Mike's takeover at Luton had a direct knock-on affect at non-league Baldock Town, the club he formerly owned.  Baldock were looking to bring in a number of new investors into the boardroom, while Mike had not been removed fully - he was still president at Norton Road.  The then Baldock chairman Ray Childerstone was looking forward to creating links with Luton through the work of Watson-Challis.  Childerstone said, "We have to look at this change as a very positive move for the club.  I am sure we are going to be very competitive this year, and I am sure that our links with Luton could be beneficial for both clubs."  However, shortly after, Baldock Town Football Club went into liquidation.

His first major decision came in July when he sacked the former Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic manager Lennie Lawrence after four and a half years in charge and replaced him with the former Hatters hero Ricky Hill saying, "I believe Ricky will help us regain some of our past glories."

It seemed that one thing was for certain - the club had a very bright future and Mike seemed the ideal man to revive the club's former glory.

In November 2000, Mike made another bold decision when he sacked Ricky Hill after just 4 months as manager.  After a run which had seen Luton win only 2 out of their 21 matches with Hill in charge, a sequence which subsequently left them second bottom in Division Two, Mike made former Luton player Lil Fuccillo the new manager.  However, this change in management did not alter the club's slide towards Division Three, so Challis decided to make another change and appointed former Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear as the new boss in February 2001.

Kinnear unfortunately couldn't prevent the Hatters from being relegated to Division Three, but, with Mike's support, he guided Luton to promotion straight back to Division Two at the first attempt during the 2001-02 season - Luton's first promotion season for 20 years!

However, after a 9th placed finish in Division Two during the 2002-03 season, Mike decided to retire from his position as chairman of Luton Town Football Club and he was handed the honour of "Life President".  He had struck a deal that brought in a new consortium to the club, but the consortium were not named.  Amazingly, just 2 days after taking control of the club, the new owners decided to sack manager Joe Kinnear and assistant manager Mick Harford, much to the disgust of the Luton supporters who adored the pair.

Over a week passed and the supporters were still not aware who the new owners of the club were.  Eventually, former Peterborough United Football Club chairman Roger Terrell and ex-Norwich City, Bradford City, Peterborough United, Hibernian, Dundee and Plymouth Argyle striker Lee Power announced that they were set to become the new chairman and vice-chairman respectively.  They indicated they were "middlemen" for the new consortium, but, after a huge protest from the Hatters supporters over the dismissals of Kinnear and Harford and the whole secrecy of the new owners that saw Terrell and Power's cars kicked, spat at and egged, Terrell and Power decided to reconsider their involvement.  Eventually, John Gurney came forward as the new owner of the club, but after a bizarre two-month spell in charge of the club - in which Gurney made several strange announcements and decisions - such as a phone poll vote for the new manager - Gurney departed.

Some Luton fans, did, however still thank Mike for his efforts at the club and a list of thank you messages submitted to Lutonfc.com by the fans can be found by clicking HERE.

It was all a sad end to Mike's 3 years as chairman of Luton Town Football Club, and the Hatters supporters were divided as to whether they were grateful to Mike for all his work, or whether they despised him for selling the club to the new owners who had shown a complete lack of compassion for Joe Kinnear, Mick Harford and the Luton fans.

Profile By:  James Garley