Nathan Jones accepts there may be some animosity from some Luton fans but says he’s determined to get their trust back after re-joining the club as boss for a second time.
The manager left in controversial circumstances in January last year, to join Stoke City, but was today unveiled as the replacement for his own successor, Graeme Jones, who was released last month to cut costs due to the Coronavirus crisis.
Before the Welshman left, 16 months ago, he was a hero to Hatters fans who, during their promotion-winning season from League Two in 2018, adapted the Herman’s Hermitt’s classic hit I’m Into Something Good, to chant his name.
He frequently reciprocated, telling fans that he loved them and being the focus of raucous post-match celebrations after big victories, beating his chest and kissing the Hatters badge, to then delirious approval.
But after he’d put Town on track for back-to-back promotions midway through last season, and on the eve of the most important decision in the club’s history, in the Power Court stadium decision, he was tempted away by the Potters.
He said: “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, because I understand that was bound to cause the animosity that it did.
“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 and 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.”
Asked if he would have to temper his naturally passionate instincts, when dealing with fans – whenever crowds are allowed back into stadiums – Jones said: “I wasn’t like that when I came. We built that relationship and we earned that trust with each other.
“It was a pretty special relationship I had with the fans and that is why the hurt was so deep and I realise that and I took full responsibility for that so you have to temper that until you build that trust up again.
“That’s me, that wasn’t fabricated, it stemmed back to the win at Wycombe and Leyton Orient but I work long hours, I commit every ounce of my life to the job and to Luton Town so that was just emotion coming out.
“When you see them (the fans) following you, 2,500 away, 5,000 at Notts County, all those things, it gives me that emotion.
“I want to build that back up but that might take time and you just have to gauge that because I’m not suddenly going to think that everything’s hunky-dory.
“There is going to be some tentative steps for me to do and the only way to earn trust is by doing good work, showing that they’re a manager that really wanted to manage Luton Town and I think I’m demonstrating that now. I’m looking forward to rebuilding those, I’m looking forward to that time.”
