Jones hoping for an open mind from Hatters supporters as he looks to rebuild 'special' relationship

Luton chief determined to win Town fans back over
Hatters boss Nathan Jones celebrates a win at Wycombe during his first spell in charge of the clubHatters boss Nathan Jones celebrates a win at Wycombe during his first spell in charge of the club
Hatters boss Nathan Jones celebrates a win at Wycombe during his first spell in charge of the club

Luton boss Nathan Jones is hopeful that Town's supporters will have an open mind to his attempts in rebuilding the special relationship he once had with them after being appointed as manager for the second time yesterday.

The 47-year-old enjoyed a wonderful rapport with the Hatters' faithful during his first spell in charge, having his name regularly sung at Kenilworth Road and grounds up and down the country after leading the club to League One while playing some outstanding football.

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However, with a promotion push for the Championship well underway, Jones then opted to suddenly and controversially move to Stoke City in January 2019, taking three of his backroom staff with him, leaving Town high and dry just days before a trip to Sunderland.

That quickly saw the Luton supporters turn against him, with his name being sung in a number of altogether different chants, with Town fans understandably bitterly upset about the manner of his departure.

However, with Graeme Jones having his contract terminated by mutual consent last month, then Luton moved to bring back their former manager, who had been out of work since November after being sacked by Stoke after nine months at the helm.

The boss is well aware it will take time to regain the trust from supporters and naturally doesn't expect everyone to be onboard immediately, but is determined to win them over once more, saying: “I'm not naive enough to think that (it won’t be difficult).

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“I want them to know that I regret my exit, how it was handled, that's paramount in this decision, I want that.

“But I also want them to realise that we did good work.

“The reason why there was such bitterness is because of the work we did, the foundations we laid, and the relationship I built with them, because I loved them.

“I was emotional every time with them because they gave me that energy, they were in me and I want to get that back.

“I will have to earn that, but I will get that back.

“If they have an open mind to me coming back, an open mind to the work we can do here, to continue that, then I will get that back.

“What I need is an open mind.

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“Of course, there's going to be animosity, of course, but you have to build those bridges and I will build those bridges.

“Just remember, we did good work prior and we want to do that again.”

Jones’ post match celebrations after a Luton win, of which there were many during his first stint, made him a huge favourite with the fans, clips of his chest pumping salutes quickly making their way on to social media.

Although he insisted that was never done for show, the boss appreciates he might have to take a different approach to begin with.

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He continued: “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.

"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.

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“When you see them (the fans) following you, 2,500 away, 5,000 at Notts County, all those things it gives me that emotion so look, I want to build that back up but that might take time.

“You just have to gauge that because like I said I’m not suddenly going to think that everything 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’ve got 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.”

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Although Jones' return is bound to split opinions between fans, the manager himself didn't think that trying to get supporters onside again made the decision to take the job any harder.

He added: “No, when you take the manager’s job you know you have to think so much anyway.

“Without being disrespectful, because Stoke is a wonderful club, and I don't want any of this to come out as me speaking badly about the club, they are wonderful people and a real good football club, it just probably wasn’t the move for me.

“As well as me doing something very difficult, in leaving, I've had to endure quite a lot, so coming back here, yeah, there is a thought process of, ‘is it going to be difficult?’

“But my thought process is to resume the journey.

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“You have to build bridges, you have to build trust again, but I had to do those the first-time round.

“Yes, it's slightly different circumstances but the reason why there was such animosity was because we did good work.

“We made big steps on a long journey, I veered from that journey, I’m not looking to veer from that journey.

"I want to resume that journey now and hopefully we can now continue that for a number of years.

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"I want to be here for a long time, and I don't want a quick fix.

"I don't want to go somewhere that is a stepping stone or anything, I want to come here and resume that journey and I’m very motivated to do that and so are my family.”