Jones vows Luton rebuild starts TODAY after play-off pain, with signings in sight

Nathan Jones has vowed to start today in his mission to make Luton stronger for next season and says he already knows what players he wants to sign.

Town suffered play-off semi-final heartbreak last night at Huddersfield as Jordan Rhodes’ goal eight minutes from time ended their Premier League dream – for now. 

It’s the second time Jones has experienced late defeat in the play-offs but he pointed to the rebuilding job Town embarked on immediately after the League Two sucker punch to Blackpool in 2017, which then saw the club win automatic promotion the following season. 

Jones said: “I remember meeting Gary Sweet the day after we lost to Blackpool. We started the next day and went out and signed Luke Berry, Andrew Shinnie, James Collins and we’ll do that again. That’s what we want to do. 

“We’ll get stronger, we’re not resting on our laurels. We’ve got all those eight (injured players) to come back into the squad, to be fit and ready to start again. We want another crack at this.

“We want to add more quality to the squad. More competitiveness, everything. Certain things we can do better. We want to evolve, have a bit more quality but we were outstanding.”

Town’s place in the play-offs has meant that their season ended later than their rivals, while the summer break is shorter this year due to next season starting in just six weeks’ time to accommodate a mid-season break for the first ever winter World Cup in mid-season, in Qatar.

But Jones said: “We still know our (transfer) targets. I still have meetings and go about meet people. We know who we want to sign. 

“If we’d have won and then gone to Wembley, it would’ve opened up a new avenue of signings, but all we do is shut that avenue down because we know we can’t afford people down that avenue. That’s all it does. We go and recruit how we do.

“I could talk all night but it’s been a wonderful season, absolutely magnificent. Whatever we’ve had to contend with, it doesn’t matter. For us to be where we are, to be playing like we are, for me, as manager to competing tactically at the top end of the Championship, that’s what I’ve dreamed of. 

“Yeah, I want to manage in the Premier League but, first and foremost, I had to endure a tough time at Stoke and I’ve come back. It’s a bit of redemption, really, for me, and then I’ve shown that we are a wonderful football club, so let’s kick on. Let’s now, use this as a Blackpool game and move forward.”

Progression has been the buzzword for Luton’s season and their journey under Jones. And the manager was asked if this year’s sixth-placed finish means, next year the club is aiming for top 5?

“Absolutely,” he said, adding: “We have to push boundaries. Now we’ve created expectations. It might not be possible, but we want to recruit. Our squad will be better, come June the 23rd, than it is now. I’m convinced of that. We go again.”