Published on the official club website, The Hatters have announced the return to the club of Nathan Jones, Luton Town’s most successful Football League manager of all-time.
Jones left Kenilworth Road 16 months ago when he jumped at the chance to manage Stoke City. Jones left with Luton Town in second place in League One and the team on the 13-game unbeaten run. The timing of Jones’ departure was hardly well-received by fans and the club itself with the Chairman having this to say on the matter, “However the timing and manner of his departure sadly showed that he is not the man he professes to be.”
Despite having these clear feeling towards Jones, the statement regarding his reappointment as manager insists everything has been patched up. “Everyone knows exactly what we thought about Nathan when he left for Stoke – we hardly made our disappointment a secret. Clearly, we couldn’t move forward without those issues being mostly corrected and over time, with the board, this has been done. Nathan has been humble with us and we’ve repaired our differences, now we want to give Nathan the opportunity to put matters right with players, staff and supporters.”
It is certainly true that Jones has been Luton’s most successful manager. In his first spell at the club he had his side playing some of the most attractive football seen in the lower leagues for many years. In his second season he helped the club win promotion from League Two. The promotion-winning campaign included emphatic 8-2, 7-1 and 7-0 wins against Yeovil Town, Stevenage and Cambridge Town.
This season has been very different for Luton Town. They have struggled to adapt to being in the Championship and currently find themselves in 23rd place, six points away from safety. Luton Town’s chairman only had one man in mind when it came to helping The Hatters avoid relegation back to League One. “We must do everything we possibly can to stay in the Championship this season. We have just nine games left to climb out of the relegation zone and the squad has to be more than ready. We need a manager who can hit the ground sprinting – someone who knows us, our players and our environment and someone who knows the league. There’s only one man who has those characteristics and that’s Nathan Jones. And there’s only one person who should be assisting him at this time – and that’s Mick Harford.”
The announcement this morning has divided Luton Town fans. Here are some of the reactions that are glad to see Jones back at the club.
Twitter: @LutonTown When he left I would never have wanted to see him back but time has changed those feelings and I’m feeli… https://t.co/I6G2ibw4jH (@MartinEcott1)
Twitter: @LutonTown Made my day!! (@mrtltfc)
Twitter: @LutonTown Love to see it, Nathan Jones barmy army. (@MaxBurrell5)
This is an appointment that has well and truly divided The Hatter fanbase.
Twitter: @LutonTown THIS IS A DISASTER. Don’t dress it up as him being the most successful manager in our history. He is a F… https://t.co/LwLPGX9cHt (@perry39222681)
Twitter: @LutonTown What a spineless football club. (@JoshhChristie_)
One fan has gone as far as saying he will no longer be supporting the club whilst Jones is manager.
Twitter: @LutonTown Joke of a club
I won’t be supporting anything to do with him
Thanks for the memories #LTFC (@djballltfc75)
