Returning Luton Town boss Nathan Jones talks death threats from Hatters fans after leaving for Stoke
Nathan Jones has opened up about receiving death threats from Luton fans after leaving for Stoke in January 2019.
The Welshman was surprisingly reappointed as Hatters boss on Thursday following the departure of Graeme Jones last month.
Nathan Jones struggled to make an impact at Stoke
But his exit from Kenilworth Road 16 months ago was ugly, with fans furious he had decided to end his three-year spell in charge with the club top of League One.
Jones was pictured holding his December 2018 League One Manager of the Month award in a Stoke training top, sparking more anger.
The 47-year-old, who was sacked by Stoke last November after winning just six times in 38 games, has deep regret over the photo, which led to death threats from Luton fans.
When asked about the vile abuse, which Hertfordshire police investigated at the time, Jones told talkSPORT: “Football’s very, very tribal. Maybe that’s not the right word. Luton fans really took me to heart.
“We had to build up a relationship because in the initial period I was booed off and getting hammered when walking off after drawing 1-1 to Yeovil [in 2016] and so on.
“I knew it wasn’t all chest pumping and having that real in sync relationship I had with the fans.
Nathan Jones infuriated Luton fans with this photo
“I had to build that and the big thing was, there was no explanation, I was the manager when they played Sheffield Wednesday [in the FA Cup] and suddenly I’ve gone and signed for Stoke.
“Certain things contributed with the photo and for that, I’m internally sorry. The regret of how it happened. That week, it was done through naivety, not malice on my part.
“It was new to me to go to a massive club. Stoke obviously wanted a manager in place as soon as possible.
“It gave me very limited time to come back and speak to the board.
“That was difficult because in hindsight, or if I’m ever in that position again, realistically I want to be at Luton for a long time, then I’d do things totally differently.
“How it came across to the fans, it was a totally justified reaction. Obviously it was very vociferous, but I understand.
“I can only apologise for how I handled that situation regardless of whether it was a right or wrong decision, I’m not debating that. But the manner in which I left, that will never happen again.”
Mick Harford guided Luton to the Championship after Nathan Jones left
Luton were able to keep their momentum after Jones left with club legend Mick Harford leading them into the Championship last season.
Harford agreed to step down from his caretaker role with former Everton assistant Jones appointed as manager for the 2019/20 campaign.
But with the coronavirus pandemic having a financial effect on Luton, the club announced his departure by mutual agreement.
The Hatters are six points from safety with nine matches to play, leaving Jones, who guided the club into League One in his first spell as boss, with a big job on his hands.
He added: “What I have to do now is build that relationship back up. I’m confident I can do that because I think I’m demonstrating my commitment to the club.
“This isn’t the easiest option I could have taken in any way shape or form, emotionally, professionally in anything.
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“But I believe that we were on a journey, I broke that journey and I now want to resume that journey and want to make up for, not so much for the error, but for lost time.
“It’s paramount we stay in the division. I see this as a long-term project. When I first came in, the plan was to be a Championship side in four years, playing a certain way and developing players.
“We did it in three years, so we’re a year ahead of schedule. If we can just maintain everything now, maintain our status, then we are still a year ahead of schedule.
“That’s what I want people to realise because we did what we said we’d do and I want to do that again, but now it’s the next block of what we want to achieve.”
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