The Town boss said he has loved his time with the Hatters so far
Town boss Nathan Jones spoke of his delight at committing his long-term future to the Hatters in his press call at Ely Way today, as well as his expectancy of a difficult game at Rodney Parade tomorrow night.
The Hatters announced that the Welshman had penned a new three-and-a-half-year deal at Kenilworth Road earlier today, and he was sure he wanted to sign the contract from the moment he knew about it.
The gaffer said: “Once the club made it clear that they wanted to do that, I was only too happy to sit down and speak.
“I am very proud to be manager of the football club. I have loved my time here. I think we have made great strides in the 14 months and I am delighted to commit my future.
“It’s a wonderful club. I have got a wonderful relationship with all the staff and the fans and everything. So I hope they are as pleased as I am!”
The 43-year-old boasts a win ratio of nearly 50%, but he insists he would happily give that up if it meant his side were higher up the table.
“It’s where we finish,” said Jones. “Trust me, I would rather my win ratio be 30 per cent, but us be in the top three if it meant that.
“For me I want to win as many games as I can. I try to win every single game. I have never gone into a game here thinking ‘a draw will do us here’. We have drawn a lot of games here, especially this season.
“But that’s from other teams clinging on. We have very, very, very rarely been clinging on for a draw in our games here. I am proud of that, but we are a positive team. We are a positive club, we want to get on the front foot. That’s my approach, that’s how I live, so that’s how I want my team to be.”
After drawing their last two games, Jones wants to see his side take all three points at Newport County tomorrow night and carry that form on for the rest of the season.
“We have been very consistent in our performances, without at times the clinical edge to win games,” he continued. “If we had that we would be a lot more comfortable then we are, but we are still in the hunt.
“We are a young group, a developing group. They give me everything, they give the fans everything.
“We don’t lose many games, but now it’s turning the draws into the wins. We have got nine games to be as positive as we possibly can and that’s what we have to do. It starts tomorrow in a very, very difficult fixture.”
The game at the home of the Exiles is expected to be a difficult one given the surface there, but Jones also thinks that any game across the border is difficult.
He said: “They have won both their away games, they lost at the weekend, but they’ll be a very difficult side. It’s a difficult surface down there.
“Anytime you go into Wales it’s a difficult game, regardless of who you’re playing. It’s bound to be adverse weather, because it’s Wales! We are looking forward to the game and it’s a big one for us.”
Hatters Player subscribers can watch the gaffer’s full press conference by clicking here.