Nathan Jones has apologised for the way he ‘betrayed’ the Luton fans in ‘three or four days of real madness’ that included the infamous manager of the month photo when he left for Stoke.
Today he rejoined the Hatters for a second spell having left in January 2019 in acrimonious circumstances, with Town pushing for promotion and about to learn of their successful bid for Power Court stadium planning permission.
Jones’ move to the Potters sparked anger among fans after he’d declared his love for Luton and developed a passionate relationship with them, having steered them to promotion from League Two.
Speaking today after being announced as Town’s new boss for a second time, Jones said: “I love the club, I wholeheartedly regret how those events came about, because I could have handled them so much better.
“I loved working for the club and then suddenly, three or four days of real madness, because it was a whirlwind and something I’ve learned a lot from. Something I couldn’t envisage happening, detracted from the long term goal that we always had at the football club.
“Regardless of whether it was the right or wrong decision, what I’m really remorseful about and I what I regret wholeheartedly was the manner of the exit.
“I understand that was bound to cause the animosity that it did, and I’m very grateful for being given the opportunity to manage this club again.
“We’ve had to build relationships a while ago back up for normality and then this came about, so I’m very grateful for the club to have given me the opportunity to manage again.
“The fans, I had a fantastic relationship with the fans, I betrayed that, I went against everything they had given me, but I had to earn that.
“Let’s not forget, I wasn’t embraced immediately, I had to earn that, and that’s exactly what I’m going to have to do again and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”
Jones departure last year was exacerbated by a now infamous photo of him wearing a Stoke training top while accepting the manager of the month award he’d won while at Luton.
He said: “It was an absolute whirlwind of a week, I didn’t know I’d won it until the day before.
“I went and did press for Stoke, I had no other clothes on me, because literally it was a whirlwind.
“I was at the training ground, I’d taken the training session, then I had to do press, then I was told the EFL were there to take a photo. I either did it in a Stoke top or bare-chested, and that was a naive mistake. I should have not been photographed. I should have borrowed something.
“The craziness of the week, it was a naive thing, that wasn’t meant as anything because I’m very proud of what we achieved at Luton, how we developed certain things.
“Yes, that got detracted from, but at no point did I mean to cause any harm in any way, so if people took it that way, I apologise and I’m sorry, but I want to look forward now and not just behind
“Yes, I want to give an explanation why, but at no point did I ever, ever mean to cause any harm to anyone or the fans who I had a wonderful relationship with.”
