It has been a manic introduction to the managerial side of the game for Nathan Jones. In just over four years of management, he has experienced each step of the English Football League and has been at the forefront of associated drama.<\/p>\n
Luton Town themselves have been on an upward trajectory since their promotion back to the Football League in 2014<\/a>. Fans of the Hatters will be more than content with where the club is. After the decade and a half that the club have been through, this success would have been unimaginable.<\/p>\n When club legend, and so-called \u2018saviour\u2019, John Still was sacked in January 2016, a young but highly ambitious Nathan Jones stepped into his first managerial role.<\/a><\/p>\n The initial consensus was very positive about Jones\u2019 arrival. He brought an active and energetic stance to management \u2013 a polar opposite style to his predecessor.<\/p>\n Jones steered the Hatters clear of relegation in the 2015\/16 campaign and had the summer to construct his own team. Key signings included Glen Rea<\/a> and Danny Hylton<\/a> \u2013 who are both still a part of Jones\u2019 current side – and goalkeeper Christian Walton<\/a>, now of Blackburn Rovers.<\/p>\n Luton narrowly missed out on the automatic spots that season and instead made the play-offs. However, the Hatters lost out to eventual winners Blackpool, when a 95th-<\/sup>minute own-goal, earned the Tangerines a spot at Wembley.<\/a><\/p>\n Sadly for Luton fans, play-off heartbreak was nothing new to the club. But, the club reacted brilliantly. The 2017\/18 campaign saw the Hatters finish second <\/a>and were subsequently promoted. Emphatic wins against Yeovil, Cambridge and Stevenage helped the Hatters finish the year as the league\u2019s top goal-scorers, with Danny Hylton and new-signing James Collins<\/a> both recording 20 goals each.<\/p>\n Amazingly, the 2018\/19 season would get even better for the newly-promoted side. Despite, having the likes of Portsmouth, Sunderland and Charlton Athletic in the league, Luton blew the division away and eventually won the league.<\/a> It was a campaign started by Nathan Jones, but with his departure to Stoke, it was carried on by club legend Mick Harford<\/a>.<\/p>\n With Luton flying high in League One, the Championship came calling for Nathan Jones. Stoke City<\/a> offered the Welshman a lucrative offer that proved to be too tempting<\/a>. When news broke of his departure, Luton fans were left disheartened, with some reacting angrily. Jones always spoke so passionately about the club and how he envisioned Luton\u2019s future, which is why some fans took the news particularly bad.<\/p>\n The 47-year-old guided the Hatters into second place before January, in a very competitive and congested League One. The responsibility then fell to Mick Harford, who kept everything as close to Nathan Jones\u2019 tactics as he could. Luton then enjoyed an even more successful second-half to the season and ran out as eventual winners. The significance of Luton\u2019s promotion was that Stoke City would be visiting Kenilworth Road in the 2019\/20 campaign.<\/p>\n For Luton fans, Stoke City was the first game that everybody looked for when the fixtures came out. However, Stoke endured a poor start to the season that resulted in the sacking of Jones in early November<\/a> \u2013 a month before the Hatters were supposed to visit.<\/p>\n Despite Stoke\u2019s terrible start, it was Luton who found themselves in the relegation zone when the season was put on hold.\u00a0 Graeme Jones, who Luton employed ahead of the Championship campaign, left the club by mutual consent<\/a> during the early stages of the pandemic.<\/p>\n As one Jones departed, another Jones returned<\/a>. The Hatters turned to Nathan Jones in a time of need, and the Welshman wanted a shot at redemption. Luton\u2019s decision to re-hire the 47-year-old did not go down well with a selection of Town fans, who still viewed Jones as a villain and a traitor. But, the board approved and he had a job to do. The former Brighton man was eager to challenge himself, albeit the job was made easier with no fans allowed in the stadium, taking the edge off (slightly).<\/p>\nNathan Jones: The Continued Strive to Win Over Luton Fans<\/h2>\n
Jones Appointment Brought About Optimism<\/h3>\n
Hatters Developed a Taste for Success<\/h3>\n
Nathan Jones\u2019 Departure to the Championship<\/h3>\n
Jones Gets the Boot Before Luton Visit<\/h3>\n
Jones for Jones<\/h3>\n