Nathan Jones: I want to build something at Charlton – there is no malice or grudges at way Southampton spell played out

Nathan Jones has talked of his desire to build something special at Charlton Athletic – just like he did at Luton Town.

The 50-year-old Welshman was appointed the Addicks manager on Sunday and his first match at the helm will be Saturday’s crucial League One fixture at Reading. Both clubs are at the wrong end of the table and urgently in need of points to climb out of trouble.

Jones has been out of work since his dismissal by Southampton a year ago.

He was interviewed for the vacancy at Millwall and made their final candidate list of two – with the South Londoners opting to go for former Chelsea and Everton coach Joe Edwards.

Jones was also linked with Rotherham United.

Speaking to the South London Press this week after his arrival at Charlton, Jones said: “I had my greatest success at Luton because I was able to be at a place to build an environment, a culture and a real philosophy there where I was able to drive something – along with real good people at the football club.

“I jumped early in that I went to Stoke – because it was a massive club at the time and had just come down from the Premier League – and I believed we could get it back quickly. Obviously when I went to Southampton it was a Premier League club.

“I only left Luton because there was massive projects and ones I felt I could be there for a long time.

“It didn’t work out. So what I wanted to do was go back to building a project at a place where I felt comfortable and where I was with like-minded people. Charlton ticked those boxes.

“I’ve been at the club before so I know a lot of the people. I know they have got the infrastructure and if we can do a good job here what a wonderful place it will be.

“There were a lot of things that attracted me.

“It was a big decision. It really, really was. I could’ve gone back in at Championship level but it wasn’t just the level that was important to me – it was the project. This just feels right.”

Jones formally signed his contract on Sunday. The terms have not been disclosed but described as “long term”.

Some supporters were worried that he might change his mind after being at last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Derby County – which only ramped up the drop worries.

Asked if he had qualms about taking the job, Jones said: “You have reservations about every big decision in your life. You have to weigh up the pros and cons. What I feel is that I have can enough of an impact so that this season doesn’t become a backward step.

“What we have to do is lay foundations. I could’ve waited until the summer but, if I’m honest, the big thing was to lay foundations now that act as a real platform for us now and a springboard moving forward.”

Jones lasted just 95 days at Southampton before being relieved of his duties.

Asked if that experience gives extra motivation to succeed now, Jones said: “I have my own motivations and pressure that I put on myself.

“Southampton wasn’t a successful time and I learned things from it. It wasn’t how I wanted it to pan out because I believed it was going to be a long-term project – I wouldn’t have left a fantastic place if I didn’t think that. For whatever reason it didn’t work out.

“What I have to do is learn from that and to come back and be strong again.

“I had a less successful time at Stoke than I did at Luton. But when I left Stoke I re-evaluated and knew exactly what I wanted to do going back in and I was even more successful going back in at Luton at a higher level.

“I’ve had a tough time at Southampton but we put that behind us. I’ve learned from that – no grudges and no malice – and everything now is just positive moving forward and to add to what Charlton has here already, to enhance the football club. That is the big, big project. That’s what I really wanted.”

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