Boss Newell left the Hatters overnight with the club 23rd in the Coca-Cola Championship and staring relegation in the face, with Luton announcing today his contract "had been terminated with immediate effect".

Brkovic admitted: "I am surprised and disappointed to see him go.

"It is upsetting news, and I want to get in touch with Mike and thank him, because we had a good relationship.

"We need a new manager, but who knows whether the person they appoint will make any difference, because it is not just about the manager.

"As players, we have to take responsibility, because we are the ones who go onto the pitch. Whoever comes in will need the players to give everything to get us out of this situation.

"It will not be easy to keep the club up."

Newell signed a new four-year deal at Kenilworth Road last August but has endured an increasingly fractious relationship with the club's board.

Following Tuesday's home defeat by Hull, Newell - referring to the sale of Rowan Vine, Kevin Nicholls, Carlos Edwards, Steve Howard and Curtis Davies - said: "Where has the £9million gone?

"Give me the money and I will replace them - but I can't. We are in this position because we sold our best players.

"Someone should investigate what is going on at this club."

Last November, Newell landed himself in hot water with the Football Association by criticising assistant referee Amy Rayner, who had officiated during his team's 3-2 home defeat by QPR.

Newell said: "She should not be here. I know that sounds sexist, but I am sexist, so I am not going to be anything other than that.

"It is absolutely beyond belief. When do we reach a stage when all officials are women, because then we are in trouble?

"It is bad enough with the incapable referees and linesmen we have, but if you start bringing in women, you have big problems."

Newell was fined $15,000 and charged with improper conduct for his outburst, while he also caused a stir in January 2006 by claiming that corruption and bung-taking were rife in the English game.

The 42-year-old took over at Kenilworth Road and led the Hatters to promotion from League One in 2005, and kept them in the Championship with ease last term.

Forward Rowan Vine, who was sold to Birmingham for £2.5million in January, revealed: "I am very surprised.

"Any club would struggle to lose players of that value and that has obviously contributed.

"Mike was trying to build a team around those players and was doing a good job.

"He is well respected and had come a long way as a manager and he leaves with his reputation still intact.

"A lot of the fans loved Mike down there so I am very surprised and there will be a backlash. He's a good young manager and they don't come along very often."

Former player Brian Stein was tonight confirmed as the club's caretaker manager.