Nathan Jones has agreed a ‘long-term’ deal to be next Southampton head coach after having further talks with the club’s hierarchy on Wednesday. Jones was in the stands for Southampton’s Carabao Cup shootout victory at home to Sheffield on Wednesday and is expected to be in the dugout for Saturday’s trip to Liverpool.
Southampton and Town of Luton had largely agreed a compensation package for Jones, believed to be £2.5m, before taking charge of his final game for the Championship side on Tuesday at his former club Stoke, but the clubs have since formally agreed conditions.
Jones, a former Brighton, Southend and Yeovil defender, enjoyed great success at Luton over two spells. In the first he took them from League 2 strugglers to League 1 promotion places before leaving for Stoke in January 2019. On his return he saved them from relegation to League 1 in 2020 and after two years of progress, he led the club last. season championship playoffs.
Jones is expected to be joined at Southampton by his assistants Chris Cohen, with whom he played at Yeovil, and Alan Sheehan.
Jones, 49, admitted to being “flattered” by Southampton’s interest in him following Luton’s 2-0 loss at Stoke. “I know my strengths and if a group buys into them then I can manage at any level,” he said.
Jones posed for photos with Saints fans in the stands before kick-off, but then saw his side fall behind when Josh Windass latched on to a pass from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and kicked the ball away beyond Alex McCarthy in the Southampton goal.
The equalizer came just before half-time when James Ward-Prowse converted from the penalty spot after Moussa Djenepo was knocked down by Marvin Johnson.
It proved the end of the score, leaving Jones to extend his trip to the south coast to watch the penalties. He will take charge of the Saints in the next round after beating Wednesday 6-5 in the shootout, after McCarthy saved Dominic Iorfa’s free kick.
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