Charlton Athletic boss Jones wants George Dobson to stay long term

Nathan Jones has spelled out his desire to keep George Dobson at Charlton Athletic beyond this season.

The Addicks opted not to allow their club captain to join Fehervar earlier this week despite a deal being agreed with the Hungarian outfit.

And Jones, appointed Charlton manager earlier this month, brought the former Sunderland midfielder back into his starting line-up for tonight’s 1-1 draw against Lincoln City.

“He’s our player,” said Jones, when asked by the South London Press about Dobson’s future. “There are opportunities to go to Hungary, and so on, but why would he want to go and leave a fantastic football club? Where he is loved and cared for…and is going to get better.

“With massive respect he has played a lot of League One football. But why not try and be a Championship footballer? Why not try and do what he does in League One, in the Championship? That is his goal. That is what we have to try and make him – change his mentality and hopefully change his life.

“He doesn’t need to go to Hungary to do that. He has an opportunity to do that here. That is what I’ve reiterated to him. It is a wonderful opportunity and a wonderful football club – that’s why I’ve come here.

“I’m proud to be here and I want him to be proud and others to be proud. We’re going to get better and push each other.

“I didn’t want him to leave because I knew he could put in performances like that.

“I think anyone is good enough to play in the Championship if they believe in themselves and do absolutely everything possible. And when they get to the Championship, what is their next goal? I had a group at Luton in League Two and we told them they were going to be Championship. We said if you buy into it and believe in it then you are going to play in the Championship. Then when they got to the Championship we said: ‘Okay, you’re going to play in the Premier League’.

“And now they are League Two players playing in the Premier League. Changing their life – from believing in it, buying into it from sacrificing everything they possibly needed to – and that’s where they are.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD