Charlton Athletic boss Jones on key to coming through adversity this season to land play-off place

Nathan Jones reckons that Charlton Athletic are reaping the rewards of keeping the faith during a tough period earlier in their League One campaign.

The Addicks are into the play-offs and play the first leg of their semi-final at Wycombe Wanderers on Sunday evening.

Jones talked after achieving the top-six feat – for the first time since Charlton were relegated to England’s third tier – about some less experienced bosses potentially going under, as well as some boards making a change, when the SE7 outfit were struggling for results.

The Addicks beat Birmingham City 1-0 at The Valley but then won just once in their next nine league outings, the lowest point arguably a 2-1 home defeat to Crawley Town..

But Charlton turned into one of the strongest performers in the second half of the campaign.

Jones also opted not to make drastic changes to his squad in the January transfer window.

Asked about the more testing moments – and the key to coming out the other side, the Welshman told the South London Press: “Experience helps. I’ve had some tough jobs. Every job I’ve had has been tough – because every job I’ve come into those teams were struggling.

“With the greatest respect I left Luton twice, but I left them in the most wonderful position that they had momentum, the best squad, structure and everything. That doesn’t necessarily happen at the clubs I’ve gone into – they have been clubs that have been severely underperforming.

“When I went into Luton on both occasions they were underperforming.

“You learn and evaluate from those tough jobs. I don’t want too many learning curves because it means I’d keep losing my job but I have done that.

“The big turning point for me is that we went to Bristol Rovers and we were poor on the night. We finished strongly and another five minutes, we could’ve got something from the game. But the game is 90 minutes.

“We played Birmingham on the Saturday and thought ‘these (Charlton) are in real trouble’. We made sane decisions and went man for man – really bold – and had one of our best performances and best wins.

“After the Crawley and Leyton Orient games we had to make sure we kept going and taking points until we got all our players back – because we had a lot of injuries in the early part of the season. We managed to batten down the hatches and show a really good level of consistency to get points and then, once we got everyone back and started to gather momentum, then we are the team we are now.

“It’s not just the manager – it is the staff. We didn’t panic or fear. We had a good board that is not trigger happy. That is why we’re seeing the benefits now.”

So it must be key to have courage in your convictions?

“It’s a great point,” said Jones. “If you are showing weakness or flitting backwards and forwards with the system or training – your behaviour becomes erratic – then people see that. People feed off that and it’s when uncertainty sets in.

“We’ve got good people here at the football club. Even my assistant Curtis Fleming is experienced and I lean on Paul Hart. People like Jim Rodwell are around here regularly.

“My backroom staff – in terms of my sports science and analysis – have had four or five promotions in their time. They are experienced at doing good work and best practise.

“We knew we had to build and evolve. We knew we had a lot of injuries. Take those things into consideration – once we get them back, do more work and some confidence built – we have turned into the team we are now.”

Hart stepped down from his role as assistant manager in August but Jones has already talked about how huge a mentor and sounding board he has been – the pair working together at Luton Town and Stoke City.

“I’ve met some good people in my time,” said Jones. “Experienced ones who settle you down and have good conversations away from football, that help me to try and make sane decisions.

“The biggest thing for me is that you have to have conviction in that and drive that. Then players go ‘okay, he’s not waivering and if he isn’t waivering then neither will I’. That is when you can show leadership qualities – because it is easy when you’re winning. I’m a great leader now because we are not losing much.

“It is about keeping everything focused, feet on the ground and keep doing the principles and basics well. You never know when a punch on the nose is around the corner.”

Charlton, Wycombe, Leyton Orient and Stockport will battle it out for a Championship spot.

“We are in a wonderful place, all four teams are,” said Jones. “When we embarked on the season would all four have taken the position they are in now? I think you would’ve been a brave man to argue with it – considering the quality of teams in the league.

“We had ambitions to get promoted by whatever way possible. We’d have loved to have gone automatic, but we probably left it a bit too late.

“Then with the injuries we had going into the Wrexham game that really stifled any hope right at the end.

“The two most consistent sides have gone up over the full season, then there are four teams now and anyone can do it – because it is a bit of lottery the play-offs, there can be a red card or something that derails something.

“It is a wonderful challenge. A year ago we were all on our holidays now and we had our end of season do – everything was rosy with optimism. That optimism has come to fruition and now we need to execute.”

MAIN PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS