Nathan Jones signs a two-and-a-half year contract to become the new manager of Luton Town
Luton Town are delighted to announce Nathan Jones as the Club’s new first team manager.
The 42-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half year contract and joins the Hatters from Championship Brighton & Hove Albion where he had held the position of first team coach.
Although this will be Jones’ first full managerial position, the Welshman has forged himself a fine reputation as a coach and assistant manager.
Jones holds a UEFA Pro Licence and last summer helped England Under-21 boss Gareth Southgate prepare the Young Lions for their UEFA Under-21 championship campaign in the Czech Republic.
A defender as a player, Jones began his professional career at Kenilworth Road 20 years ago, when David Pleat signed him for £10,000 from Merthyr Tydfil in 1995.
After a year at Kenilworth Road Jones left for a 12-month spell in Spain, playing for Numancia and Badajoz, but on his return to the UK Jones went on to enjoy success at Southend, Brighton and Yeovil, making over 500 appearances and winning promotion three times.
Success continued to follow after he hung up his boots. It was with his final club as a player, Yeovil, that Jones began his coaching badges, and in 2009 he became the Glovers’ assistant manager.
During his time at Huish Park, Jones helped nurture future England internationals Andros Townsend, Steven Caulker and Ryan Mason, all of whom had joined Yeovil on-loan from Tottenham.
After a brief spell as Under-21s manager at Charlton, Jones was appointed assistant head coach to Oscar Garcia at Brighton in 2013. In his first season at the Amex the Seagulls reached the Championship Play-Off final.
Following Garcia’s departure, Jones was then named as new boss Sami Hyppia’s first team coach but after the Finn’s exit in December last season, Jones took over as interim manager and helped the then-struggling Seagulls to four points from two games in the Championship.
Despite another change in manager at the Amex, Jones was kept on by the newest man in the hotseat and became Chris Hughton’s first team coach – a position he has held until his arrival at Kenilworth Road.
Everyone at Luton Town would like to welcome Nathan to the Club and wish him the very best success.
Chief executive Gary Sweet told lutontown.co.uk: “On behalf of the board I am thrilled and excited to welcome Nathan Jones to Luton Town.
“After a lengthy and thorough process, in which we received numerous excellent candidates for the position, we believe that have found the best man to lead the Club’s footballing aspirations forward.
“Nathan is a professional, disciplined, strong and open-minded character who is going to install a hard-working team ethic and, importantly, the prospect of fast-flowing football to Kenilworth Road.
“The Board believe Nathan will modernise our Club’s football culture, blending the elements of our footballing heritage with a modern, forward-thinking philosophy.
“As a Club we realise a change of thinking will not happen overnight, but we are already excited at the prospect of Nathan’s ideas and vision for Luton Town.”
A press conference to unveil Jones’ arrival will take place at Kenilworth Road on Friday. For further information on attending click here.