The 42-year-old was appointed in November 2022 and steered The Hatters to promotion back to the top flight for the first time in over 30 years in 2023.

He remained at the helm despite relegation from the Premier League after just a single season, but a run of four straight defeats has left them 20th in the Championship.

Monday’s 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers was their 10th in a row away from home and they are just two places and two points above the relegation places.

“Rob has given us some of our greatest days to celebrate as Hatters,” chief executive Gary Sweet said.

“The play-off final at Wembley and our season in the Premier League will live with us forever and in doing so Rob has earned himself a legendary status.

“Results this season, especially away from home, have clearly not been acceptable and while we have supported Rob and his team in every possible way, we all felt that action was required to rectify this with 20 league matches still to play.

“It is typical of Rob’s humility that he also recognised this himself and leaves not just as a former manager, but as a trusted friend who has left his mark on every player and member of staff.”

Edwards’ assistants, Richie Kyle and Paul Trollope will be in charge of the team for Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie at Nottingham Forest, along with club legend and former boss Mick Harford.

A former Aston Villa, Wolves and Blackpool defender, Edwards began his coaching career at AFC Telford and had a spell in charge of England’s under-16 side before guiding Forest Green Rovers to promotion from League Two in May 2022.

That earned him a move to Watford, but his tenure at Vicarage Road lasted just 11 matches before his contract was terminated and they turned to the more experienced Slaven Bilic.

He only had to wait two months for a fresh opportunity when he was given the Luton job following Nathan Jones’ departure for Southampton.

Disappointment followed success with last season’s relegation from the top flight, but having been given a new four-year contract, he expressed confidence ahead of the current campaign that he had a squad capable of challenging for promotion again.

Their start, however, was disrupted by injuries, but after only taking one point from their first four games, they managed back-to-back wins over Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday.

A 5-1 defeat at Middlesbrough on 9 November was their heaviest since losing back-to-back games by the same score against Manchester City and Brentford in the Premier League in April.

And Edwards – who won 32 of his 103 games in charge of Luton – subsequently admitted he had experienced self doubt as a result of their poor start to the campaign.

Asked about his position following the Middlesbrough game, he told BBC Three Counties Radio: “Whatever will be, will be, I’m not in control of that stuff. I love this football club, it’s been one hell of a ride and we’ve achieved things probably non-one thought was possible.

“If that is it, we can hold our heads high, we’ve given everything – if it’s not, then we continue to fight. The football club always comes first. I’m a big man and know how the game works. I’ve tried my best.”

The board decided to stand by Edwards and although The Hatters won three of their next seven games, a 1-0 loss at Bristol City on Boxing Day began the run of defeats which brought his tenure to an end.

A club statement said Edwards, Kyle and Trollope had given supporters the “greatest day of their lives” when Luton beat Coventry City on penalties to secure a return to the top flight for the first time since 1992.

“On that day at the national stadium and then again four months into the Premier League campaign, at Bournemouth, Rob led with compassion and dignity in the wake of the two episodes which saw his captain, Tom Lockyer, collapse on a pitch with heart issues,” the statement continued.

“We could have not wished for a better man to understand what it takes to be manager of Luton Town, one who acted as an ambassador for the club and community in the glare of the world’s media spotlight.

“The current campaign back in the Championship has clearly not progressed as anticipated, and after holding amicable talks following Monday’s defeat at QPR, the board and Rob have agreed to part with immediate effect.”