Newell linked to Derby post

The Luton Town manager, Mike Newell, is understood to be on the short-list for the vacant post at Derby County after the consortium that took over the club in April announced that it would not give the job to the caretaker manager, Terry Westley.

Newell, 41, led Luton to the League One title last summer and finished 10th in the Championship this year. The new Derby chairman, Peter Gadsby, has identified Newell as one of a few his consortium would like to install following Phil Brown's disastrous reign that ended in January under the former Derby regime.

Mick McCarthy and Kevin Keegan have also been linked with the job although the former England manager is not understood to be interested. Newell attracted praise this season for his determination to go public on what he said was a bung culture among managers and agents. His comments paved the way for the current Premier League inquiry into the issue led by the former Metropolitan police commissioner, Lord John Stevens.

In March, Luton claimed that Newell has agreed a new four-year deal at the club - but Newell responded by saying he had passed the document to his solicitors but had not signed it.