ST Albans City have completed their pre-season schedule with the addition of a home friendly with local rivals Luton Town.

The Hatters represent high calibre opposition for Ian Allinson’s side as they look to prepare for the 2018/19 campaign and are expected to bring a strong side to Clarence Park.

Town will visit Clarence Park on Saturday, July 21 in a game which kicks off at 3pm.

It promises to be a testing clash for the Saints as Nathan Jones brings a side fresh from gaining promotion to League One to St Albans.

His team finished second in League Two last season and will be eager to hit the ground running when next season gets underway.

The announcement of Luton as City’s final pre-season game completes a stellar line up of friendlies for the Saints.

They also take on Northampton Town, Stevenage and Leyton Orient before the 2018/19 National League South season gets underway.

Away from matters on the pitch, City are facing a restructure to their youth team set up after Mervyn Morgan stepped down from his role as the club’s chair of trustees.

Morgan has been in the position for a decade and reflects fondly on his time at the club.

He had announced his intention to remain in his post as recently as October, but has changed his stance since the club’s stadium development plans fell through.

The council have rejected plans for City to build new stadium at Noke Lane, which would have allowed the Saints to build for a sustainable future.

The collapse of the 6,000 seater stadium proposal is the third major project Morgan has seen fall through during his spell at the club.

Such setbacks have been hard to digest and Morgan highlighted the council’s inability to work with the Saints as the reason for his departure.

He said in a statement: “I mentioned recent events have helped to confirm my intention to stand down, for some time I have been working, with my friend and fellow Trustee, the joint owner of St Albans City FC Lawrence Levy on the new stadium proposal.

“It was a plan which I firmly believed, if accepted, would have been of enormous benefit to the long-term future sustainability of St Albans City.

“It may have been somewhat naive of me to have been surprised by the council’s negative reaction to the project, but I was, therefore, I am sorry to say that I have concluded that many of those who represent us in the Council Chamber have little or no understanding of the needs of the City.

“they do not deserve a club like St Albans City Youth FC, a club run by hundreds of volunteers for the youth of our district, a club that has achieved great things in its 47 years despite the obstacles sometimes put in its path.

“Over the next few months I have given my word that I will see out the rest of this season and take care of the club Affiliation for 2018/19, as well as help get things ready and in place for next season.

“But my name will not be going forward at the annual general meeting in September, now is the time for a new generation to carry the baton.”