Nathan Jones sends Charlton Athletic 'abuse' warning in response to Cardiff City vacancy links

Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones has reassured the club that he intends to stay at The Valley amid links with the vacant Cardiff City role, despite frustrations with some Addicks' supporters this week.

The Welshman shouldered the blame for the midweek defeat to Bristol Rovers but his side bounced back in style with a hugely impressive win over league leaders Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon. Speaking after the match, Jones didn't hold back in responding to criticism received throughout the week.

Charlton Athletic manager fuming at supporter ‘abuse’

He said: "There's been a lot of noise this week. I got abused by my own fans the other day. Absolutely abused by my own fans and questioned about my selection and who should be playing. We had to make big, bold, sane decisions and we did.

"I'm really proud of the group today. I'm really proud of the coaching staff and everything. We didn't panic. We made bold decisions. No one had gone after Birmingham as we have there and we got our result.

"It's a message to fans, if you want to get behind something then get behind something, there's going to be some bad performances now and again but we've given them more good times than bad at the moment. If people want to trust us and trust me to manage a football club, then fine. If they want to pick teams themselves then come in, I'll have my money and move somewhere else."

That head-turning quote comes at a time when Jones had emerged as an early frontrunner to replace Erol Bulut, who was sacked by Cardiff City late last month. The Addicks manager has an affinity with the Welsh side, having started his footballing career with the Bluebirds and grown up supporting the club.

The Charlton Athletic boss has made no secret about his desire to manage the club one day but Steven Schumacher, Ryan Lowe and interim boss Omer Riza have now all overtaken Jones as frontrunners for the role.

Nathan Jones - ‘I’m not one to jump’

Asked again about how long he plans to stay at Charlton Athletic on Saturday, he said: "I want to build something. I've come here specifically to build something. I want to do that and like doing that.

"I went to Luton and wanted to build something, I did. I had an opportunity at Stoke, I wanted to build it but didn't get the results to back that up. I went back to Luton and built it again, I was there for three years. Then I had a wonderful opportunity to go to a club and build something [Southampton] but was given eight games.

"I'm not, ironically, one to jump. I want to be here and to build this. I would like us to be really successful and for me to enjoy everything about being a manager at Charlton Athletic. That's what I want and what I'm endeavouring to do."

Doubling down on his earlier comments, Jones then added: "If I'm not wanted here and if I continue to get abuse and they question everything I do, then no problem. I'll hand the reigns over to someone and they can take the club on. I don't want that to happen. I want to be here and fans to enjoy it, days like today."