Money has made it clear Keith Keane is not leaving the club

Luton Town manager Richard Money has hit out at Crawley Town boss Steve Evans for publicly stating his interest in midfielder Keith Keane.

Money has laughed off Evans's claim he is preparing a "six-figure" bid for the 23-year-old midfielder.

He told BBC Three Counties Radio: "When they put a bid in, I'll tell them where to go in no uncertain terms.

"Steve Evans is trying to be clever. I wouldn't call it mind games. I'd call it petty, ridiculous rubbish."

He added: "I don't think Keith Keane wants to play in front of 700 people.

"We've had no bid for Keith Keane, from Crawley or anybody else."

I've been chasing him for a while to be honest. He's got great experience, and he's economical and sensible both with and without the ball Luton boss Richard Money on trialist Ciaran Toner

The prospect of the Hatters letting the academy product leave the club seems unlikely, considering he signed a new two-year contract just one month ago.

"I'm hearing they're going to make a six-figure bid. So, I presume we'll get a bid on 13 August for £100,001," Money continued.

"That's clever, isn't it? Unless the number starts with a nine, they can forget it."

Money went on to confirm the only offer he had received for any of his players this summer had been for striker Matthew Barnes-Homer, which also came from Crawley but had been turned down.

Luton have yet to complete their own preparations ahead of their second consecutive season in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

The Hatters fielded a strong side in Thursday's 5-1 friendly win over Hitchin, with Money also taking a look at a handful of trialists.

Hungarian goalkeeper Matyas Estherhazy was given a run out, along with midfielder Stefan Bailey, who got on the score sheet, and former Grimsby and Rochdale man Ciaran Toner, who impressed the boss the most.

"I've been chasing him for a while to be honest. He's got great experience, and he's economical and sensible both with and without the ball," he said.

"Hopefully, we can find some room for him and persuade him to come to us."

Meanwhile, Money shed some light on the future of full-back Lewis Emanuel, stating the 26-year-old's career at Kenilworth Road had come to an end.

"Lewis is no longer with the club. We've given him the opportunity to come in during pre-season and he hasn't been seen," he said.

"So that door's closed. He's not coming back."

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