Richard Cawley reports that Nathan Jones is expected to sign a new deal. It would increase the compensation to be paid by any club that tried to poach him, believed to be just £1m at present.
The club has now officially confirmed that he has signed the contract/
Some fans still seem to be concerned about Nathan Jones going to Cardiff despite the authoritative Richard Cawley knocking the story on its head.
Rational argument often doesn't do well against clickbait and the social media echo chamber, but let's try.
Nathan Jones has just got Charlton promoted, Cardiff have just been relegated. He has the backing of the board, the team, and most fans apart from a few perennial malcontents.
Vincent Tan at Cardiff is a hopeless owner. Despite pouring money into the club and continually changing manager, they have failed on the pitch.
He even tried to change the club's kit from their traditional kit to a red-based kit that was supposed to appeal to Asian fans, most of whom have no idea where Wales is, let alone Cardiff.
He only backed down when his mum told him he was a very naughty boy.
Jones wants to wipe out the memory of Southampton and Charlton gives him the chance to do that.
I have now booked a few days on the Kent coast which is a particular haunt of Charlton pessimists such as Desmond from Deal and Derek from Dymchurch. I will wear my Charlton badge and will be happy to buy a pint for any fan, even the moaners.
Sometimes I despair of Charlton fans who are so susceptible to a mood of hysterical pessimism. A journalist in South Wales starts a clickbait story that Nathan Jones is going to Cardiff and immediately a large segment of the Addickted believe it.
We all know that many South Walians are chancers, e.g., Rob Brydon pretending to be his own agent.
Thankfully Richard Cawley has stated: 'Indications I've had is that there is no chance of Nathan Jones going to Cardiff. Not to say they wouldn't have loved the Charlton boss to try and bounce them straight back out of League One.'
Nathan Jones may be mercurial, but he is not an idiot.
Cawley has indicated that he may be back online sooner rather than later.
From today's Times:
Tightly fought contests are often decided by individual
moments of brilliance, and this game demanded exactly that after a cagey
opening 30 minutes. The centre half, Macaulay Gillesphey, delivered Charlton
Athletic’s season-defining moment when he broke the deadlock with an
excellently whipped free kick over the Leyton Orient wall to send his side back
to the Sky Bet Championship.
Charlton’s quest to return to the second tier after five
years in League One has, for the most part, felt like a slog. Before Nathan
Jones’s arrival as manager in February 2024, relegation to League Two looked
more likely than promotion.
So for Jones, this result is one of huge personal
significance. Despite being a key figure in much of Luton Town’s rise from
League Two to the Premier League, his departures to first Stoke City and
then Southampton in his two spells meant that, before now, he had not tasted
promotion since taking Luton up from the fourth tier in 2019.
“Today was just a culmination of probably 16 months’ work, a
lot of belief, a lot of sacrifice,” Jones said. “You can’t quantify the amount
of work that’s gone into it because of every single sleepless night, every
single phone call, every single time I’ve slept at the training ground, every
single time my family’s had to sacrifice not seeing me.”
Promotion to the Championship proved to be a step too far,
for now, for Richie Wellens and Leyton Orient, having led the east London side
from the bottom half of League Two to the League One play-off final in three
years.
This campaign has been unforgettable, having gone toe-to-toe
with Manchester City at Brisbane Road in the FA Cup and ended the regular
season with a six-game winning streak to secure their place in the top six.
However, the campaign was not to receive the fairytale ending many thought it
deserved.
“It’s disappointing but we have to recognise where we’ve
come [from],” Wellens, the Orient manager said.
The contest was a scrappy affair at the start, with shots a
rarity in the opening stages. Charlton looked the better of the sides early on
but had very little to show for it in terms of clear-cut chances.
It was the midfield battle that dictated the flow of the
game. Being first to the frequent loose balls in the midfield was crucial to
taking a foothold in the game, and Jones’s side started to do just that. Each
challenge and clearance was full-blooded, with every defensive header won with
conviction.
The well-placed free kick from Gillesphey was the first shot
on target of the game. The free kick was won by Tyreece Campbell, the pacey
Charlton winger, who was often stopped in his tracks by a much more physical
Orient defender. This time, the foul was drawn in a dangerous position.
Gillesphey whipped his effort over the wall and it dipped
with pace, bending out towards the corner. It was hardly out of reach for the
goalkeeper, Josh Keeley, but the ball was struck with such power that he
was unable to keep it out of the net, despite diving at full stretch.
That opened up the game heading into the second half, as
Orient looked to stretch their opponents using their wide players, with Ethan
Galbraith bombing on down the right throughout.
Wellens’s side tried alternative methods to equalise. Two of
those came from Jack Currie and Charlie Kelman, whose deflected strikes came
close.
Currie’s shot was directed wide of the far post by the
desperately outstretched boot of Kayne Ramsay. Then shortly after, the studs of
Lloyd Jones sent Kelman’s attempt bouncing wildly towards goal and off the top
of the crossbar.
A lengthy break in play because of a fault in the
communication between the referee and VAR was criticised by Wellens post-match,
as he felt it broke up their momentum late in the match.
They attacked with increasing fluidity but ultimately could
not find the final ball necessary to level up the scoreline. They will spend
next season in League One, while Charlton get to experience a higher level.
Charlton Athletic (4-2-3-1): W Mannion 6 — K
Ramsay 7, M Gillesphey 8, L Jones 7, J Edwards 6 — G Docherty 6, C Coventry 6 —
T Small 6 (T Watson 68min, 6), A Gilbert 6 (K Anderson 68, 6), T Campbell 7 (M
Mbick 81) — M Godden 7 (C Aneke 81). Booked Jones.
Nathan Jones talks in depth about his upbringing in the Welsh valleys, his temperament, his beliefs and his views about current society: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/24/nathan-jones-charlton-league-one-playoff-final-leyton-orient-football
It would be difficult to find someone more different from Alan Curbishley. It is perhaps difficult to remember after all these few years quite a few people had doubts about Curbs as manager (which is why he started as joint manager).
Leyton Orient were forecast by Four Four Two to finish 17th this season, but they have ended it as an in form team. I think we need to win in 90 minutes. I wouldn't like the game to go to penalties, our first Wembley final notwithstanding.
Nathan Jones has attracted some criticism from the tabloids for his emotional reaction to Thursday's victory, but he and the club have been through the mill as the BBC acknowledges: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c991y2zgp77o
The Currant Bun report on his 'bizarre antics' is here: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/34980600/nathan-jones-charlton-praying-wycombe-playoff/
At least Charlton is getting some attention for once, even if some of the publicity is negative.
I was surprised to learn that one of my granddaughters, who has shown no previous interest in football, but plans to move to Wales has applied with enthusiasm for a backroom job at Swansea City.
He was derided as a poor quality replacement for Alfie May at the beginning of the season, but Matty Godden secured a Wembley final for Charlton at The Valley this evening.
Matty Godden's goal nine minutes from time sent Charlton into the League One play-off final as they edged past Wycombe at The Valley. In a second leg almost as tepid as the first leg, the tie was settled by Godden's 22nd goal of the season.
A long ball into the Wycombe penalty area was turned towards
goal by Lloyd Jones and fell kindly for Godden to poke home from close range.
Charlton will now play Leyton Orient in the final at Wembley
on Sunday, 25 May with the Addicks aiming to return to the Championship for the
first time since 2021.
It was another night of few chances but Charlton, who
finished a point and a place above Wycombe in the table, finally found a goal
as attention began to turn to extra time.
Macaulay Gillesphey floated a ball from just inside his own
half into the Wycombe box and Jones beat Adam Reach to it and steered towards
goal with his right boot.
Franco Ravizzoli, who replaced the unwell Will Norris in
goal, was a little hesitant to come off his line and could only block Jones'
touch towards goal. It bounced into the path of Godden who chested down and
turned into an empty net.
Jones had earlier squandered by far the best chance of the
whole tie as, six minutes before the break, he totally miscued a free header
from six yards out, diverting Godden's cross from the right fully 20 yards wide
of the right-hand post.
Charlton went close again after the break as Thierry Small
cut inside from the right but curled his left-foot shot just wide of the
left-hand post.
Wycombe were second best and failed to fashion a clear-cut
chance but did go close twice as the game wore on.
First Garath McCleary took Fred Onyedinma's cross but his
shot was superbly blocked by Kayne Ramsay for Charlton before the rebound fell
for Xavier Simons, whose shot was also blocked by Ramsay.
At full-time Addicks boss Nathan Jones was close to tears as thousands of Charlton fans spilled onto the pitch to celebrate. He says that relief was his main emotion: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-overwhelmed-with-relief-as-charlton-athletic-secure-league-one-play-off-final-place/
Nathan Jones emphasies that he is at Charlton for the long tern, despite potential interest from other clubs: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/i-want-to-be-here-nathan-jones-has-unwavering-commitment-to-charlton-athletic-as-he-targets-league-one-play-off-glory/
Two Wycombe players face late fitness tests, but they have not been named: https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/highwycombe/25153301.wycombe-vs-charlton-athletic-mike-dodds-looks-ahead/
Moaners were hoping for his early dismissal, but Nathan Jones defends the way in which he brought success to Charlton by sticking with his squad: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-athletic-boss-jones-on-key-to-coming-through-adversity-this-season-to-land-play-off-place/
Matty Godden was derided as a poor replacement for Alfie May at the beginning of the season but here he talks about how he has battled through his career, including a spell in non-league: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/ive-worked-my-n-off-charltons-matty-godden-on-non-league-career-rebuild-and-rooting-for-coventry-city-play-off-success/
Over at our sister site special guest correspondent Nigel Pooter has been looking at the finances of Crystal Palace: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2025/05/can-eagles-soar-even-higher.html
Given that Miles Leaburn is injured, Nathan Jones is understandably upset that Chuks Aneke's red card has not been overturned: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-athletic-boss-jones-left-fuming-as-chuks-anekes-red-card-upheld-on-appeal/
Not a surprise, however. First, the authorities are always reluctant to undermine referees by challenging their decisions. Second, listening to Steve Brown's account at the time (even though he tends to look for negatives), Aneke was at least unwise in his response to provocation.
Jones has had to 'clarify' his remarks about Wrexham being a circus, saying he did not mean any disrespect to a well-run club: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-boss-jones-addresses-wrexham-the-circus-comment-ahead-of-mega-league-one-showdown/
Sometimes Jones speaks before he thinks, but then his emotional nature appeals to many fans.
Nathan Jones has been shortlisted as manager of the season. Looking at the other contenders I would have thought that Chris Davies was the most likely winner, but it it is still an honour for the manager and the club: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-boss-shortlisted-for-league-one-manager-of-the-season/
It's not so long since leading moaners were calling for his early dismissal. Managers need time to turn a club around, there is far too much short termism in football.
Nathan Jones warns tbat no one at Charlton is getting carried away after the recent run of good results. https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-on-keeping-charlton-athletic-grounded-despite-meteoric-rise-up-league-one-table/
Unfortunately, Jones could fall prey to the Manager of the Month curse: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-athletic-boss-nathan-jones-up-for-february-motm-award/
Nathan Jones has urged ex-referee Keith Hackett to get a sense of proportion after he suggested that Thierry Small should be sanctioned for kicking the corner flag when celebrating his late winner against Shrewsbury Town. Jones has pointed out that there are far worse things going on in South-East London: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/maybe-keiths-bored-charlton-boss-nathan-jones-hits-back-at-ex-referee-over-small-celebration-claim/
The corner flag was rescued by a staff member and is said to have recovered from its ordeal.
Now that Lloyd Jones has signed a new contract, something that I think will be welcomed by the majority of Charlton fans, Nathan Jones has urged to show him what he is capable of, admitting that one cannot use the word 'potential' at age 29: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-urges-lloyd-jones-to-take-opportunity-to-achieve-what-he-is-capable-of-after-extending-charlton-athletic-contract/
While we may not make the play offs this year, we are building a platform for the future. At least the 'we will be playing in League 2 next season' crowd has gone quiet.
Nathan Jones says he is 'pretty' convinced that Charlton will bring players in before the end of the transfer window, but is rather vague about what sort of players they might be other than that they will add 'quality'. Never mind the quality, feel the width: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/im-pretty-convinced-nathan-jones-makes-charlton-athletic-transfer-admission/
Jones seems more confident that he will conclude a deal with Lloyd Jones to extend his contract: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-athletic-boss-very-confident-of-defender-agreeing-new-deal/
He is still fuming about the referee's failure to issue two cards at Bolton and has asked for 'observations': https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/complete-and-utter-loss-charlton-boss-wants-answers-over-challenges-in-bolton-win/
It's really a waste of time, as much use as Karl Robinson's belief in a referees' conspiracy against Charlton, but the technophobes who dislike VAR should perhaps ponder.
To be fair, Jones did succeed and the player was banned for three matches, but he did have the decency to admit to his misconduct.
At 20 years old Thierry Small is still a developing player and according to Nathan Jones a transfer window priority is to get someone who can play down the right wing: as it is, Charlton's attack has been lopsided: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/thierry-small-impressing-for-charlton-athletic-but-transfer-window-focus-is-still-to-strengthen-down-that-side-of-pitch/
Charlton CEO Charlie Methven has given a comprehensive interview about the current state of play at Charlton: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-athletic-chief-executive-officer-charlie-methven-on-current-league-position-transfer-window-and-style-of-play/
More of the interview has yet to be released, but Methven does seek to address head on some of the concerns expressed by fans, but makes it clear that Captain Jones is there for the long term to steer the rusting oil tanker on a new course.
Methven admits: ‘We’re about five or six points short of
what the target was at the start of the season. Whether it be as a board, or
the manager, we wouldn’t exactly be jumping up and down with joy about where we
are right now. But, at the same time, we are very far from being out of it.’
“In some of the other clubs I’ve been involved in, in
similar exercises, like Oxford United, around 12 years ago, and Sunderland, six
years ago – the first thing you have to do is arrest the decline. It is easier
said than done, because organisations which have got negative momentum – that
is a very powerful form of momentum.”
“You have to gradually start turning the oil tanker around
and that is a painful process. Every single thing the club does has to be
unpicked and analysed – put back together again or restructured. I said it from
the moment I came to Charlton that these are two to three-year processes.”
Methven offered little comfort to those wishing to see an early
departure for Nathan Jones: ““There is a good reason why Nathan signed a
long-term contract. It was the opinion of the board, once we had a chance to
look under the bonnet in those opening five months that we were at the club,
that the club was going to need quite significant wholesale change and that
change was going to need to be bedded down over a significant period of time.”
Returning from injury and playing 90 minutes at Lincoln, Lloyd Jones says his fellow players are to blame for long ball tactics: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/lloyd-jones-welcomes-positive-draw-at-lincoln-city-and-says-players-take-the-blame-for-recent-long-ball-antics/
Of course he can't criticise the manager publicly, but the return of players like him may well improve the standard of play.
Nathan Jones says he felt that Conor Coventry wasn't fit enough to play at Lincoln: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-explains-conor-coventry-absence-during-draw-at-lincoln-city/
He said he did not name a substitute goalkeeper because he wanted to be 'positive'. Substitutes were available. That seems a bit risky to me given that we no longer have a 'Steve Brown' who did well in goal when called upon.
BTW, I don't think Nathan Jones is beyond criticism. I didn't think Curbs was: he often left substitutions too late to make a difference. But I do think Jones knows more about football than many of his critics. Sometimes I think we should just get rid of a coach and let a fans' committee take the decisions. Many of them think they know what to do: 'if we can see it, why can't he?'
I was conscious when I had two knee replacement operations, but I didn't criticise the surgeon for his technique. Good job he hadn't learn it on the internet.
It looked as if substitute Kanu might have saved Charlton total embarrassment against Gatwick Airport at The Valley this evening with a well-taken equaliser in the second half, but a goal keeping error by Maynard-Brewer let Crawley back into the game.
The Addicks had a half chance from a corner, but Campbell
couldn’t get his foot on the ball.
Six minutes were added on to no avail, although Jones had
come on. It was all a bit
scrappy. Rob Elliot was booked. A late corner was the last opportunity.
It was a cold evening in SE7, a small crowd and a flat game
that lacked quality with the visitors going ahead in the first half through
Swan. They had three former Addicks in
their starting line-up, as well as the visiting manager.
Charlton were booed off at half time with some boos directed
at manager Nathan Jones as he went down the tunnel.
Steve Brown said that the right team won, it was another lacklustre performance by Charlton. Nathan Jones was booed by the Covered End as he applauded them.
Charlton remain 12th in a tight table, but just four points above a relegation position.
The Addicks had eleven shots, but just three on target, as against six for Crawley. They won three corners to zero, but were unable to make use of them. Crawley had the edge in possession.
A long-term fan from SE7 now living in South-West London commented: 'The question with NJ is does he have a plan to improve things that the owners have bought into. Do they trust him with their money? I cant see any plan. Its tinker, tinker, no idea of the best team and tactics. Not a fan of constantly changing manager but this can’t continue.'
In his post match remarks, Nathan Jones was in Welsh windbag mode, lots to say, but no real explanation to offer: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/it-was-an-edgy-night-nathan-jones-on-charlton-athletic-fans-dishing-out-the-boos-after-loss-to-crawley-town/
He might like to consider taking the walk outside the tent, but I don't think he will. He is stubborn and would be due substantial compensation if removed.
As always, my question is, who is the quality manager who would want to take over?
Nathan Jones has taken on his critics by arguing that Matt Godden is a worthy replacement for Alfie May: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-praises-gassan-ahadme-double-and-says-matty-godden-is-answering-questions-raised-by-alfie-may-departure/
May has scored fewer goals than Godden this season, although this may in part reflect his appearances for the Blues.
Jones explained that he didn't want to take a risk with Leaburn yesterday and had news about players returning: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-explains-why-miles-leaburn-sat-out-charlton-win-at-walsall-and-gives-positive-update-on-another-absentee/
