‘I want to be here’ – Nathan Jones has unwavering commitment to Charlton Athletic as he targets League One play-off glory
richard@slpmedia.co.uk
Nathan Jones has spelled out that his future is at Charlton Athletic – regardless of success or failure in the League One play-offs.
The Addicks head into the first leg of their semi-final at Wycombe Wanderers on Sunday as they bid for promotion to the Championship.
Jones guided Charlton to fourth in the final standings – a major turnaround from their 16th-placed finish in the 2023-24 campaign.
It has led to speculation that the 51-year-old, previously tempted away from Luton Town to Stoke and Southampton, could become a target for other clubs. But when asked about that, Jones told the South London Press: “It’s nice to be thinking like that – because after the Leyton Orient game (a 2-0 loss in the EFL Trophy in December) I think a lot of people were thinking I’d be out in a different way.
“For me to be just over a year into the project here, I’m very proud of the progress this football club has made. I want to continue that.
“I wasn’t quick in jumping from Luton because I had a number of opportunities and took two projects I felt were right at the time. But I’ve learned from those. I’m extremely happy here.
“We make sane decisions. I have an excellent squad and I have the autonomy when I do my job.
“I love where I live. So I have no desire to leave this football club. I want to be here. I want to build something and I do believe – with pure conviction – we can achieve our goal on a medium term.
“I’m proud to be the manager, because it is a wonderful football club. We’ve had to come through a lot. I’m extremely happy in every aspect of my life and career here. I don’t think anything adverse would happen.”
Charlton had adversity after their 1-0 win over Birmingham at the start of October – only winning once in nine league fixtures as they took eight points from a possible 27.
Jones talked after Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Burton Albion about less experienced bosses “might go under” and adding that some boards would be tempted to make a change. American owners Joshua Friedman, Gabriel Brener and Warren Rosenfeld were all in attendance at the weekend – witnessing a Valley crowd of 20,971.
So did he seek assurances during the team’s lean spell?
Jones said: “What I do is make sure the board and the people I report to see the work that we do. So when we go through tough points they see the work we do and the hours we do. They see the quality of the work – how we speak and how we debrief. Then they go ‘okay, I believe they are going to come through this’.
“If it was sporadic work and we’re only spending three or four hours a day here and I was flitting back and forth to places – fly by night – then that is when alarm bells ring. But I don’t think alarm bells have rung. I have sane conversations with the owners and decision-makers at the football club. I’ve put out a plan for them what can happen.
“Even when we were doing well they asked me what I wanted in the January window – are we as good as we think? I said: ‘Yeah, it is my job to get the best out of these. I don’t just want players, players and players’.
“Little things like that help us to understand each other and build a relationship. Now we’re in a really good position. So if I do ask them for something, they know it comes from a good place.”
Charlton won both matches in the regulation season against Wycombe, who appointed Mike Dodds as head coach when Matt Bloomfield was snapped up by Luton in January.
The Chairboys head into the play-offs off the back of three straight defeats, struggling to produce a response after a 4-0 home loss to the South Londoners on April 21.
Dodds has talked about his side using their reverses against their play-off foe as “fuel” and adding the narrative will be that Charlton did the double over them.
“Anything that comes out of Wycombe is Wycombe’s business,” said Jones. “What we want to do is concentrate on two legs and being the ones who are victorious. Whatever we have to do for that we are prepared to do.”
“It is two games and the best team will ultimately come out on top. They can’t be any more motivated than we are because we have worked all year for this.”
Charlton’s finish means the second leg will be in SE7 – just as it was when they defeated Doncaster Rovers in 2019 on their way to Wembley promotion under Lee Bowyer.
It is set to be a capacity crowd.
“Talking about the demand for tickets and there being a sell-out at The Valley – that’s why I came to this football club,” said Jones.
“I know the potential it has. We are laying a foundation so that we can see that potential come to fruition. We’re in the early stages. There is still so much time to go and work we have to do but we’re in a really good place.
“We’re excited about this. We believe we’re a good side and we just want to achieve what we think we are really capable of doing.”
PICTURE: ALAMY
