Asked a two-pronged question on whether he is up to the task and whether he thinks bridges have been burnt with supporters, he responded first with: “I’m not sure.” Later in the press conference, in a second section embargoed for print publications, Jones was asked to clarify exactly which part of the question he was referring to. With Saints bottom of the Premier League after 21 matches, seven of those under his stewardship (six defeats), and a bizarre string of comments after Saturday’s heavy defeat – anything was possible.
Nathan Jones said: “I categorically think I am the right man for the job because I know the work I do. If others, outside influences or anything, feel that I don’t know. But if you ask me I categorically think I am the right man for the job. I know what I can do and what I do on a daily basis and I know what we need.”
Jones’s demeanour during the media conference, previewing the visit of relegation rivals to St Mary’s on Saturday, was noticeably different. Although many of the core messages were the same – a belief in God helping him through, a desire to be an aggressive, front-footed team and a smattering of both defiance and insecurity in one’s own decisions – Jones seemed more reflective.
Nathan Jones said: “I think every situation is unique but look, I went to Luton. I was homesick when I went to Luton when I was a player. The manager left, David Pleat left, my next move was then to go to Spain. No logic in that because I’m homesick in Luton and then I decide to go to Spain. I enjoy a challenge, I want to be the best version of me. I could have stayed in a mining community, been a PE teacher and had a nice life, married a nice Welsh girl. Beautiful. I didn’t. I want to test myself on every level. And that’s nothing against Welsh women. I want to test myself, I have always wanted to test myself. I wanted to test myself and be a player and survive. I knew I wasn’t brilliant as a player but I was the fittest human being in history. I thought ‘I’m going to cling onto this dream and get as high as I can’. While I was doing that I then took coaching badges and learnt of people, and I wanted to be the best coach in the world. That’s what I wanted to be. I learned to develop, then it came to a point where I thought I could be a manager. I didn’t set out to be a manager but then I loved it. Love the pressure, loved it when the team won, got more enjoyment out of my team playing well than me playing well when I did. Now I’m hurting like anyone else, like any Southampton fan. I’m not saying I’m a bigger Southampton fan but my life depends on it now. So I don’t go to the pub after and stuff like that but my life depends on this, and I love the pressure, I love the challenge.”
