Graeme Jones bears no ill will to West Brom but admits it was a surprise when he left the Baggies when in March, with the club sitting fourth in the Championship.
The Town boss was number two to Darren Moore at The Hawthorns last season, but left on March 10 after the manager was surprisingly sacked, with the club sitting fourth in the play-off positions.
On Saturday, Jones will take charge of only his second competitive game at Kenilworth Road and searching for his first Championship victory, when Albion, led by Slaven Bilic, head to Kenilworth Road.
Asked if it was a surprise when he left West Brom, eight months after swapping his role as Belgium assistant for the Black Country, Jones said: “Yeah, we were fourth, ninth of March, on 61 points. I think we were the top goalscorers in the Championship, so if Luton are in that position on ninth of March, I’ll take it right now.
“These things happen in football. I’ve moved on I’m just concentrating on at Luton results and performances now.”
Asked if the clash will have any extra significance because of his recent affiliation with West Brom, Jones said: “The professional side of me views it as just another match, it’s a next game on the calendar. The emotional side of me remembers we had eight or nine months there.”
But Jones is well aware of the pressure that came with the job of trying to steer the then newly relegated Baggies back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
“Fourth wasn’t good enough, is the truth,” said Jones, adding: “I like anybody with high standards, but I think taking any job of any relegated club is not easy. It’s probably one of the most difficult tasks that I’ve been involved in in football.
“There is definitely an aftermath after relegation that you have to deal with. Players that have been used to being Premier League players then find themselves as as Championship players. It’s a difficult task so we were really proud of our work because, to make West Bromwich competitive until March was one of the best things that I’ve been involved in to achieve that.
“So, it’s not easy, but West Bromwich, as a football club, expect to be in the Premier League . They are Premier League club in stature. A wonderful football club, grate support and they turn up in the numbers every week.
“So, it was a difficult task, but I definitely think we got club competitive.”
But Jones believes any hope of the Hatters exploiting top flight mindset from the Albion players has gone this season.
He said: “This division is quite sobering. You have to sober up quite quickly because it’s so competitive.
“It doesn’t give any respect to names, or the size of the audience, or the badge you’re wearing, as it’s 11 v 11 on the pitch.
“The boys at West Brom were a really good group of lads and I really enjoyed working with them. They know that and they’ll be competitive on Saturday and every game this season, I’ve got no doubt about that.”
