If Nathan Jones is hired as Charlton’s manager, fans will have to be patient with him.
The Addicks are looking for a third manager this season. They started the season with Dean Holden in charge, but he was fired after only six games.
In early September, he was replaced by Michael Appleton, who had previously managed Blackpool and Lincoln. But after failing to win any of his last ten games, he was fired last week.
Charlton is now 18th in League One, barely four points clear of the relegation zone.
After spending in the summer and also in January on the likes of Alfie May, Conor Coventry and Macaulay Gillesphey, there is expectation at The Valley.
The Charlton board have to get the next appointment right.
One manager they have been linked with is that of Nathan Jones.
The managerial search as it stands
Following Appleton’s sacking last week, Curtis Fleming has taken interim charge, whilst former Charlton captain Jason Pearce will be his assistant.
Many names have been linked with the job, but the front runner for the role at the moment appears to be Nathan Jones.
The latest development is that Jones is set for further talks with Charlton this week, according to Richard Cawley.
Jones has been out of work for just under a year, after being sacked by Southampton in February 2023 in the Premier League.
After spending in the summer and in January on players such as Alfie May, Conor Coventry, and Macaulay Gillesphey, there is optimism at The Valley.
The Charlton board must get the next appointment correctly.
Nathan Jones is one of the managers they have been linked with.
The managerial search as it currently stands
Following Appleton’s dismissal last week, Curtis Fleming has taken over interim duties, with former Charlton captain Jason Pearce serving as his deputy.
Many names have been associated with the job, but the main candidate for the role right now appears to be Nathan Jones.
The latest development is that Jones is set for further talks with Charlton this week, according to Richard Cawley.
Jones has been out of work for just under a year, after being sacked by Southampton in February 2023 in the Premier League.
He is known for his time at Luton Town, a club which he has managed on two separate occasions. His first stint was in 2016, when Luton, now in the Premier League, were in League Two.
He led the club to promotion to League One in 17/18, and he had them in second place in 18/19, on course for back-to-back promotions.
However, he left them in January 2019 to take up the job at Stoke City in the Championship. In an unsuccessful spell, he was sacked in November 2019.
In May 2020, he returned to Luton and led the club to Championship safety. He then led them to the 21/22 play-offs, where they lost in the semi-finals. He then departed for Southampton in November 2022.
Jones has also previously worked at Charlton as a U21 professional development coach, which he did more than a decade ago.
If Jones is appointed—patience is required.
Jones is undeniably an experienced manager, and despite not all of his previous roles going well, his experience in League One, although for only half a season, is impressive.
Charlton are now looking over their shoulders as they battle for relegation, but with their current playing squad, there should be few concerns.
May, Coventry, and new signing Freddie Ladapo are all arguably Championship quality players, and that’s just a few of the Addicks’ team that are better than where they are right now.
However, Jones has demonstrated throughout his management career that patience is required.
Charlton’s playing squad is of the highest caliber in the division, thus fans should expect solid results right away.
Jones’ career demonstrates that time is a virtue. He was sacked after barely three months at struggling Southampton. Stoke are an outlier, having been in charge for ten months with no improvement despite ten new acquisitions during his tenure.
However, it took him two and a half seasons to get Luton out of League Two during his first spell there. In his second term, in his second full season, he helped them reach the top six.
Luton shown the patience he required, and they were justly rewarded.
Jones has proven to be successful when given time – and if Charlton and their fans can be patient with him, there is plenty of hope if he is appointed.
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