Luton manager Nathan Jones has moved to clear up the clash with Cardiff boss Steve Morison, claiming he was misquoted over their touchline tiff, and that he actually questioned the conduct of the Bluebirds’ boss.
The Hatters beat the Welsh club on their patch in Tuesday night’s 2-1 triumph, but there was controversy at the final whistle when Morison felt his counterpart’s celebration lacked “decorum”.
Jones was captured by the television cameras celebrating for a few seconds in his own technical area by clapping vigorously, but not in the direction of the home box, before going to shake hands with his opposite number.
Morison, however, took exception, words were exchanged and when asked afterwards what was said, was quoted by the BBC as claiming that Jones told him, “who are you? It’s just about winning.”
But the Town boss insists that was not the entirety of what he said to the Cardiff manager, insisting: “Managers can say what they want. I very rarely comment on another manager. Steve felt aggrieved because I celebrated for three to four seconds in my own box, facing away from him, facing my own dugout, if you like.
“I was delighted that my team had won away at Cardiff, which is a tough place to go. Then, immediately, I went to shake his hand.
“I had no problem. How that is disrespectful, I don’t know. Steve’s taken it disrespectfully then, look, I apologise, but I can’t see it.
“He had a go at my centre forward. I didn’t say anything, I allowed him to do that. He had a go at my centre forward for being lazy and wanting to commit a foul.
“I didn’t have a go at any of his centre forwards or any of his players, so I don’t see why that’s disrespectful, or why I need more decorum.
“If Steve does then that’s his prerogative. I’ve got no issue with Steve, it’s fine. I went to see him after and he wasn’t there, so no problem.
“A lot’s been blown up about it, but I’ve been misquoted, categorically misquoted in the BBC. But it’s not worth going into that, at the end of the day. We’ve come away, got the win and that’s all I’m really concerned about.
“I want to clarify, he said to me, ‘you need a bit of decorum.’ I said, ‘who are you to question me and my decorum?’ That’s what I said. The other bit, I didn’t say.
“But I categorically said to him, ‘who are you to question me on my decorum?’ because I felt he was slightly out of order, but I let it go.
“I didn’t make a big fuss or anything. He had a go at my first-team coach, Alan (Sheehan). He was more concerned with our bench than we were with theirs.
“I don’t know, maybe it’s more his issue than mine. I’ve got no problems with Steve Morison whatsoever. Why would I?
“I’ve never had a conversation with the guy. I’ve never come across him, I’ve barely played against him, so I’ve got no issue. I don’t know him, so I can’t understand that.
“It’s been blown massively out of proportion, but as I’ve said, if I’ve disrespected him, I never want to disrespect anyone.
“How I am in the dugout is slightly different to who I am as a human being but I’m passionate about my football club and I want to win football matches. That’s all I want to do.
“Sometimes that comes across, but if he came in to speak to me afterwards like 99 per cent of managers do then I’ll have a conversation and he’ll have a different perspective on it.”
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