Luton business model ‘the envy of 99 per cent of Championship clubs,’ says Jones 

Three of Luton's 2020 Board (L-R) Chairman David Wilkinson, Director Stephen Browne and chief executive Gary Sweet
Three of Luton's 2020 Board (L-R) chairman David Wilkinson, director Stephen Browne and chief executive Gary Sweet. Photo by Liam Smith

Nathan Jones says Luton are the envy of most of their Championship rivals due to the prudent way the club is run, which was highlighted by their quiet transfer window.

Despite having one of the smallest budgets in the second tier, Town are pushing for a play-off place without splashing big money on players. 

That was highlighted as the Hatters missed out on signing Luke Freeman from Sheffield United on transfer deadline day because they couldn’t afford him.

Jones said: “We’ve got a wonderful model here and it’s a model that everyone’s aligned with and onboard with. 

Nathan Jones applauds the Luton fans
Nathan Jones applauds the Luton fans. Photo by Liam Smith

“So, when I miss out on Luke Freeman, there’s no tantrums because it just doesn’t fit in to what we do. 

“But, when we’re able to bring in Jordan Clark and develop him into something special, that’s brilliant and his value has gone through the roof. 

“That’s the type of player that we bring in here. The Elijahs, Jack Staceys, James Justins, Isaac Vassell and all those people.

“Then we have good ones here that have been here and we’ve got major value from, like Pelly-Ruddock. And it’s a wonderful model. 

“We’re probably the envy of 99 per cent of Championship clubs. The understanding that we all have and the alignment from the management through to the board, to the coaching team and I believe the fans now, because I don’t think fans expect us to spend £1million or £10million on a Brazilian. 

“They don’t expect us to do that, so the alignment that we have is something special and it makes our club very, very good and very dangerous.”

On transfer deadline day, Luton did sell record signing Simon Sluga to Ludogorets for a reported €500,000, rather than risk the Croatian leaving for free in the summer when his contract expired. 

Football clubs will still be feeling the pinch for last season being played in empty stadia due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Simon Sluga signed for Ludogorets on transfer deadline day
Simon Sluga signed for Ludogorets on transfer deadline day. Photo by Liam Smith

But asked if finances were a factor in Sluga’s departure, Jones said: “I don’t think it’s quite that. We’ve got a responsibility to balance the books. We’ve got a wonderful board. We haven’t got a sheik that can finance it with billions. But, what we have got is a real good board that back the club. 

“Then we’ve got processes and an understanding of what we can spend and what we can’t. 

“We generate money from buying, producing, developing and selling and that’s stood us in good stead.” 

And now a potentially money-spinning clash could be on the cards if Town can get past Cambridge United in the fourth round of the FA Cup tomorrow. 

The Hatters would bank £90,000 with victory at The Abbey and it’s money Jones knows won’t be wasted.  

Jones said of the competition: “Either a run or a win and let’s draw a massive one (club) so we can pocket a million quid, or something like that. I don’t know what the finances are in football, but we’d like to do that. 

Nathan Jones watches on in an empty Stamford Bridge stadium during last season's FA Cup
Nathan Jones watches on in an empty Stamford Bridge stadium during last season’s FA Cup. Photo by Liam Smith

“We’d like to give the club a little bit of help, so that when we say to the club – and we don’t ask for a lot here – but if we say, ‘we’ve got a big game away at Swansea, can we stay two nights?’ It’s things like that. 

“We put it all back into the infrastructure. The board are brilliant with that and Gary is amazing. The finances are important, so every time we’re on Sky, or every time we advance in a round it all goes back in. 

“It’s not the directors thinking, ‘I can pocket it” or ‘I can buy a villa in majorca’, it goes right back into the environment. We improve the environment here and that’s why we’re in such a strong position in terms of everything. 

“Everything is aligned, everything goes back into the pot and it’s all to do with the development and the furthering of this football club. That’s a wonderful place to be in.”