It is just over a week since Luton Town rewrote the football rules for expecting the unexpected, when Nathan Jones was appointed as manager for the second time.
I’ve been pretty vocal about Jones since he turned his back on us and left last January. I didn’t like his departure then and I’m not enormously enamoured by his return now, but I concede that the decision to bring him back does make sense, despite my previous views.
I wrote a column on this site earlier in the season where I declared I would rather have Tom Jones than have Nathan back and gave a number of reasons why.
I am not about to rewrite history. Everything I highlighted then remains the case now and it is a scary thought, but the world has changed since then and needs must now.
The value of our Championship status has been made perfectly clear in the last week or two. The figures being quoted would have been astronomical to a club of our size before a global pandemic threw everything into chaos, let alone in a world where financial ruin could be just a short while away.
Remaining in the second tier is huge and with the action set to resume in less than two weeks, unlike a normal pre-season, we do not have time to appoint a stranger as manager and give him 6-8 weeks to get to know his squad ahead of the arduous campaign ahead.
As the phrase used by Gary Sweet goes, we have to hit the ground sprinting when the Championship returns and the one man who gives us a chance of doing that is Nathan Jones.
I’ve seen and heard comments that suggest the players have been lifted by his return, which is exactly the effect that is required at this stage and is another sign that the decision makes sense, whether it proves to be the correct one or not.
I’ve highlighted the two sides to this previously, the footballing side and the empathy one. As a fan I don’t think I’ll ever fully trust Jones again, and I’m sure I’m not alone, but this is about more than what I and those like me think and more than who the manager is, this is about the potential future of our club.
With that in mind Nathan will have my support just like any Luton manager would. I just hope he returns improved enough to get the results required to complete the great escape.
Whether that happens to be the case or not, the sensible decision has been made, regardless of the potential unpopularity of it.
Hi i am not the greatist nathan jones fan the way he left us but its a time healer with the situation as it is. he will only get the support back if he gets us out of relegation.CHeers
I’m with you Kevin on this one! I ‘detest’ the way NJ left us, (with a job left HALF done), and, probably, HOWEVER long he remains at KR, he will NEVER have my support! However, like many, I support the club, and at this point I think any ‘prejudices’ need to be put aside, because, like you, I actually think he is the BEST man for the job, if not necessarily the best PERSON!!