 The club was relegated from the top division at the end of the 1991 – 92 season , and sank to the third tier four years later . Luton stayed in the third @-@ tier Second Division until relegation at the end of the 2000 – 01 season . Under the management of Joe Kinnear , who had arrived halfway through the previous season , the team won promotion from the fourth tier at the first attempt . " Controversial " owner John Gurney unsettled the club in 2003 , terminating Kinnear 's contract on his arrival in May ; Gurney replaced Kinnear with Mike Newell before leaving Luton as the club entered administration . Newell 's team finished as champions of the rebranded third @-@ tier Football League One in 2004 – 05 . 
