Jones not looking to stretch Luton's finances in the transfer window during coronavirus pandemic

Although the lack of income received by the Hatters due to the coronavirus pandemic is having an affect on his transfer budget this season, it isn't a major concern for Luton boss Nathan Jones.

The Town chief confirmed again on Thursday that he was looking to add to his squad if possible over the next month, but is yet to do any business thus far, ruling out moves for former Aston Villa winger Andre Green and Kilmarnock striker Eamonn Brophy, who has since signed for St Mirren.

With virtually all of Hatters' games played behind closed doors since football resumed back in June, it means the club have not made any money from ticket sales or match-day revenue, and when asked what has done in terms of his transfer kitty, Jones said: "It has a knock-on effect on everything but we’re very diligent in what we do and we don’t overspend.

“I’m not going to the board to say, 'we need this, we need to do that.' If we don’t sign anyone then that’s no problem whatsoever.

“What we have to do is be very diligent, so, if someone comes in for one of ours and that will free up a little bit of money, or if there’s something long-term that benefits us, then I’m sure the board will do something.

“But, we’re not looking to do big business.

"We’re not looking to stretch the finances and put anyone under anything because we’re in a good place.”

Jones was also quick to praise the board for their financial management this season, plus the club's loyal supporters, who put their hands in their pockets for season tickets ahead of the campaign, dispute not knowing if they would actually get to watch their team play this term.

He continued: “The club have done fantastically well, aided by the fans, by the way, because without the season tickets, without that, we’d be in a different place.

“We’re so, so grateful for the fans.

"It’s not a cliche, it’s not a manager just saying it, but without our fans, it’s shown in times past, the club wouldn’t be where it is now.

"They’re continuing to do that and it just shows what a great fanbase we have.

“That’s not me being clever or cliche, that’s just the facts.”

On whether he thinks those supporters will get to attend Kenilworth Road once more before the season ends in May, Jones remains unsure.

Three thousand in total were allowed in for games with Norwich City and Preston North End last month, but then with restrictions being tightened once more due to a new strain of the virus being found, grounds were shut again for the foreseeable future.

The boss added: “For the short team it’s very difficult, but the country has to stay safe, that’s the main thing, we have to come through this.

"The vaccine’s a big thing that we didn’t have back in March, so hopefully the vaccine can get rolled out and, by the time we’re starting next season, for example, we should have pretty much the majority of the population vaccinated, which would then mean that life can go back to a semblance of normality.

“At the minute, we’re not there.

"We were getting there really, really quickly and then the new variant came out, so that’s the thing that’s curtailed it.

“We had two wonderful results and were very pleased that fans came back. How much influence they had on it, we’ll never know, but we’re very grateful for it.

“We miss fans, we really do, but public safety is paramount at this time and we have to come through this thing and everyone has to do their bit.

“Football’s doing a little bit of the bit in terms of, one, adhering to the protocols, but, two, giving something to watch and to enjoy through a very, very difficult time.

“We hope that can continue and then once we do get the majority of the population vaccinated then the virus can’t do the damage that it has been doing.

"Then we can return to a semblance of normality.”