Oxford United fans are keeping a close eye on events at Kenilworth Road to see who gets the Luton Town job in succession to Mick Harford.

And many are wondering whether it would be a good thing or bad if bookies’ favourite Mark Cooper, the Kettering Town manager, lands the post.

The question of who becomes the new Hatters boss is highly significant for Oxford United, who are in pole position at the moment for the one automatic promotion place, as they lead the table by six points.

But while Luton are widely regarded as being the biggest danger to Oxford, because they have the best squad of players, it is Cooper’s Kettering who lie in second place.

They, like Oxford, have won four of their last six games.

Ex-Cambridge boss Gary Brabin was installed as the initial favourite to take over from Harford in the Luton Town managerial chair.

But a surge of bets on Cooper, who was also in the frame for the Oxford United job before it was reduced to a short-list and then given to Chris Wilder, has greatly increased speculation that he could be leaving Rockingham Road.

His odds were slashed from 8-1 before the weekend to 2-1.

And he has only fuelled speculation further by admitting that there is “a chance” that Saturday’s 1-0 win at Eastbourne was his last game in charge of the Poppies.

When asked by BBC Radio Northampton if he might not be in charge for Kettering’s next match, he replied: “There’s always a chance, isn’t there.”

Cooper, 40, the son of Leeds United legend Terry Cooper, took charge of Kettering in May 2007.

He added: “I don’t think they (Kettering fans) should be worried.

“They’re second in the table with 30 points and are chasing Oxford United down.

“There are some fantastic football players and characters in the dressing room so there’s no way at all they should be worried.”

United have already drawn 1-1 at Kettering this season, and beaten the Hatters 2-0 at home.