Sky Sports pundit tells Charlton Athletic what they must do after latest Nathan Jones twist
One pundit has had his say on Nathan Jones’ situation at Charlton Athletic amid interest from Cardiff City.
Charlton Athletic now look set to keep hold of manager Nathan Jones after a nervy week or so. Jones has been courted by boyhood club Cardiff City, who were relegated to League One this season, swapping places with the Addicks, who went in the opposite direction.
In most situations, it would be no concern for a club that has just secured promotion, but Jones supported Cardiff as a boy and has previously spoken about his desire to manage the club some day. To his credit, the Welshman has also spoken about his focus on Charlton, describing the club as a ‘big club’ and regularly highlighting his commitment to the role.
It was reported earlier this week that Cardiff were going after Jones, willing to pay compensation to get him out of his Charlton contract, but journalist Darren Witcoop has since reported that Cardiff are turning elsewhere barring another change of direction. He tweeted: “Back to Plan B it now appears for Cardiff. A deal Cardiff were more than exploring appears to be over with Jones staying at Charlton as it stands. And think that will be that. Blow for Cardiff and good news for Charlton.”
On the back of that report, Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has had his say, and he believes Charlton must now back their boss in the transfer window to not only reward his good work but to give the side a chance in the second tier.
“It's a massive boost for Charlton, there's no doubt about that,” Hendrie told Football League World. “I think what he's done, since he's gone in, stabilised the club, as Nathan does really well.
“It is what it says, at times, on the tin with Nathan. He's hard to beat. He's well organised. You can see his enthusiasm, he wears his heart on his sleeve, and he gets the best out of his players. So, I do hope that they give him an opportunity to bring players into Charlton, because that's a club that could be on the verge of going up and really having a good season, given the chance to go and do that.
“And I think they've got the right person there that can take them there. I think Cardiff at the moment are in a real tough situation with where they're at, at the moment. And I just think Nathan knows and will realise that, that he's at a very good football club and that's probably why he just said, ‘nope, it's not happening and I'm staying at Charlton’, and fair play to him.”
Charlton will be hugely relieved if the report proves true. It would have been a disaster to lose their boss just weeks after securing promotion to the Championship regardless of what the fee would have been. But Hendrie is right in the need to commit funds to improving the squad, and Jones has already admitted that the squad needs improving in all departments if he and the Addicks are going to properly compete in the Championship.
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