THE Championship’s manager of the season has revealed some of the secrets behind his success – having no “superstars” and burning a table tennis table.
Nathan Jones, 48, is in his second spell in charge at Luton Town and is looking to end their 30-year top-flight absence.
Nathan Jones has been named the Championship’s manager of the yearCredit: Rex
The Welshman initially guided the Hatters to promotion from League Two back in 2018.
That was before he left Kenilworth Road for an ill-fated stint at Stoke – during which time the Bedfordshire outfit he departed sealed a second-straight promotion.
18 months later he was back at Luton and is now leading the Championship’s fifth-placed side to a surprise push for Premier League promotion.
His efforts were recognised at Sunday’s English Football League awards ceremony when he picked up the manager of the season accolade.
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While Jones was recognised, not a single one of his players made it into the team of the year.
However, Jones was not that bothered by that.
In fact it is one of the key ingredients behind Luton’s rise.
And speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio, he revealed some of the secrets behind his and Luton’s rise to the brink of the top-flight:
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NO SUPERSTARS
Jones said: “We have no superstars and we have a group of players that want to achieve something – they are nowhere near their ceiling.
“Outside Luton, everyone would have thought this is a huge, huge surprise, that it couldn’t be done – but inside we had that confidence that we could push boundaries this year.
“Ideally everyone would like to do fantastically well without spending a hell of a lot of money. “That isn’t the case in football on all levels but we do it very well.”
TABLE TENNIS
“When I came in, I felt some of the players were more concerned about being good on the table tennis table than they were about being professional footballers.
“There was a big table tennis culture so I thought I can either cajole them and try to get them into the gym or I can burn the table tennis table.
“It was far easier to burn the table tennis table.”
RECRUITMENT
Jones has prided himself on bringing in bargain buys that do not blow the club’s strict budget.
One of those is 17-goal topscorer Elijah Adebayo, brought in for an undisclosed fee from Walsall back in January 2021.
Jones explained: “It’s evolution really – we’ve been on a journey.
“This year we wanted to really challenge – we believed it, we recruited that way.
“Recruitment is everything because no matter how good a manager or coach or CEO you are, if you get that wrong you are done.
“And we’ve got recruitment right – that’s probably been the secret.”
WHAT’S LEFT?
Luton only need two points from their final two matches to secure a play-off spot.
And they could still make them even if they lose both games should the chasing pack drop points.
They visit already-promoted top dogs Fulham on Monday before a final day home clash with lowly Reading.
