Michael Reeves
We may be in early days as far as Swansea City managerial hunts go but there is one name that crops up on a reasonably frequent basis including in the bookie odds and that is of former Southampton and Luton Town manager Nathan Jones.
Jones started last season at Luton before departing for Southampton where his tenure was very short lived with the Welshman removed from his position after failing to steer the Saints away from the lower end of the Premier League. A failure that played some part in their eventual return to the Championship and, maybe with a dose of irony, led to them talking to Russell Martin to be their new manager.
So whilst Martin is set to head to St Mary’s stadium does it mean that Jones is set for the Swansea.com especially with the impending arrival of Paul Watson that is expected to be confirmed and completed over the course of the next week or so.
Watson is someone who knows well from his time at Kenilworth Road and it has been speculated already that he is the one pushing for Jones to be here in Swansea particularly as part of the role of Watson seems to be overseeing the transfer activity of the Swans going forward. As much as we talked about Martin wanting his trusted backroom staff with him at Southampton it is easy to understand why Watson may want a manager that he knows and, more importantly, trusts.
The name of Jones has been dismissed relatively quickly by some but he did have a good track record at Luton although his two spells away (Stoke and Southampton) were significantly less successful and of course there will be many who cannot see beyond his links (or love) with Cardiff City. What is known is that the Swans are yet to have any formal talks with Jones but that does not necessarily mean that Watson and Jones have not discussed very loosely the possibility.
Watson’s influence over the ownership group is yet to be known and, despite their distance from SA1, that same ownership group will not be completely detached from the reactions of many when his name is linked with the job. However, they will also want to deliver what they believe is right for the club and if that person is Nathan Jones then I do not suspect they would hesitate in making the appointment.
The name of Jones was first linked at the end of last month almost as soon as the news that Martin was going to Southampton was first revealed. Carlton Palmer was under no doubt that it could be a good appointment for the Swans:
“Nathan Jones has been strongly linked with the Swansea job, as Russell Martin looks set to leave to take over at Southampton,” Palmer told Football League World.
“Nathan had a disappointing spell at Southampton, but is highly regarded in the Football League.
“Doing an outstanding job with Luton Town in two different spells, Nathan has proven he can build a strong and successful side on a budget, which could tick a few boxes for Swansea City.
“I think this would be a good appointment for the club.”
A poll, run on the Planet Swans forums at the time had an opposite view with 2 in 3 people casting their vote suggesting they wouldn’t get behind Jones should he be appointed. Russell Martin was certainly a manager that appeared to split some of the fanbase in their views on him, Nathan Jones would at least continue that trend. Continuity is a good thing…right?
Jones’ celebration last season when his side won in SA1 will have done nothing to endear him to the crowd here in Swansea but many will point to that as a passion for his job rather than anything personal against the team itself although again that comes back to his feelings for Cardiff City.
Jones was instilled as one of the early favourites for the Cardiff job as well but never really appeared to be in the running there but I do genuinely wonder if that is different here in Swansea and cannot help but feel that the input of Paul Watson could end up as a deciding factor.
We will wait and see anyway but for me, I’m not ruling Jones out as a possible replacement. Not yet anyway.
“Martin split opinion amongst fans” – only for the impatient grumpy folk that frequent this site.
Completely agree Michael, some do not speak for all.
We have owners who are being thrifty and Martin worked with it until he had a better offer.
Well done to him and hope he learns from his mistakes he made and is better for it.
Not quite so keen on Jones, Swansea has been used to finding emerging managers. To me Jones looks to need to prove himself again and will come with demands in order to recreate what he has done before. These maybe proven to work previously but football moves on and I for one want to see fresh talent.
You’re right it was split on here but it was also split on Twitter as well – lets not pretend that it was any different anywhere else. The Martin brand of football was good at times and was dreadful on more than enough occasions to give the balance. And that was played through in crowd reactions at games as well.
Nathan Jones, Cardiff Fan so what! – So was Tosh and look where he took us. I am sure with him being out of work and Cardiff over looking him
knowing he was a fan, surely would but a fire in his belly to prove their dismissal of his talents was a poor oversight. This together with his previous club Southampton also in the same league and likely to be managed by Martin is enough drive for any man. It is time for him to rebuild his stock, two failures on he will want to prove his worth and I am sure this will be to Swanseas’ advantage. He is a true professional from what I have read, something to prove again and with Watson also at the club, I can see only a positive reign! – remember how we loved and still love Tosh! – it is time not to be blinkered!
Well said, Mike Stand. I fully support your view that Nathan Jones could add passion and some much-needed edge to today’s Swans, whose defence must be regarded as a bit of a soft touch (under Martin, anyway). I wonder if the influence of Alan Tate been missed in the Swans’ defensive performance ? He and Steve Cooper seem to be making a significant impression at Forest. My only concerns about Nathan Jones centre around his likelihood of bringing good players with him and his general level of influence at Premiership level, which is probably key when it comes to acquiring loan players. Remember Steve Cooper’s ability to bring in top young talent from the World Cup winning under 17’s ? Could Jones and Watson command such influence ? We shall see (maybe) but a reunited team of Jones and Watson sounds like a “winner on a budget” to me. Forget the tribal Cardiff links – Cardiff rejected Jones, so he’ll be out to show them what a big mistake they made.
Good thoughts there David and the thing that appeals about Watson (put Jones to one side for the moment) is the fact that he was instrumental in some of the work that luton put together on their own shoestring budget and look where that got them. Much of that was done in tandem with working with Jones so it shouldnt be dismissed. We need to look beyond his support of Cardiff, if h s the right man for the job then he is the right man for the job.
If he’s cheap, and can attract cheap players, you can bet your last dollar, our Owners will have already had a word in his shell like.
Nathan Jones been interviewed and swansea not interested end of.there have been so many names thrown in by various social and news reports especially by wales on line it’s getting boaring anything for a bit of Goss ,why Don’t all these news and social sites wait and stop throwing new names in every day