[themaclad]

League One strugglers Charlton Athletic have appointed former Southampton and Luton Town boss Nathan Jones as their manager on a "long-term contract".

Jones, 50, has been out of work since being sacked by Saints in February 2023 after just 95 days in charge.

The Addicks dismissed Michael Appleton last month after a 12-match winless run.

That run has now extended to 14 games, leaving them just three points above the relegation zone.

Welshman Jones took Luton to the Championship play-off semi-finals in the 2021-22 season, where they lost to Huddersfield.

He was then appointed to replace Ralph Hasenhuttl as manager of the then Premier League Saints in November 2022 but was sacked after three months, with one win in eight league games leaving the club bottom of the league.

"He is a manager of real pedigree who has a track record of building successful teams over a period of time," James Rodwell, chairman of the Charlton board, said.

"He is a great fit for Charlton given his ability to get his teams playing football on the front foot, with a passion and an intensity.

"He is an excellent coach, who is tactically savvy and an outstanding developer of talent."

Jones' first game in charge will be at relegation-threatened Reading, who are two places and three points below Charlton.

[themaclad]

Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones has signed a new five-year contract with the newly promoted Championship side.

The 52-year-old Welshman guided the Addicks to promotion via last month's League One play-off final.

The former Southampton, Luton Town and Stoke City boss had been linked with the vacant role at recently relegated Cardiff City.

Jones moved to The Valley in February 2024, on what was described at the time as a "long-term" contract, and guided them away from relegation danger.

This season, he led Charlton to a fourth-placed finish in League One - seven points off second-placed Wrexham - before beating Leyton Orient 1-0 at Wembley to return the Addicks to the second tier after a five-year absence.

That success has been rewarded with extended terms, which tie Jones to the south London club until 2030.

"I still had three years left but for the club to come to me and want to continue that journey meant a lot to me because it's a club that I love.

"We've just taken one big step, but that's only one big step - we still have a long way to go to achieve our goals and I'm glad that I'll continue to work towards that."

Jones joined Charlton after contrasting fortunes in his previous roles.

He led Luton up to League One before leaving for Stoke City in January 2019, but struggled to make an impact in the Potteries before being sacked nine months later.

Jones moved back to Luton in May 2020 and led them to the Championship play-off semi-finals in 2022, laying the foundation for the side that was promoted to the Premier League 12 months later.

He left in November 2022 for an ill-fated three-month period at Premier League side Southampton, during which Saints lost seven of Jones' eight league games in charge, leaving the club bottom of the league, before he was sacked.

But he has again found success at Charlton as he prepares for the Addicks' return to the second tier.

"We have a really cohesive group forming at Charlton - from the players and coaching staff to the wider team behind the scenes and of course our supporters," chairman Gavin Carter said.

"Nathan has been a key part of that unity and our success on the pitch this season means we are ahead of schedule in our long-term planning for the club.

"Nathan understands the values of this club and shares our ambition for where we want to go. We're thrilled to have him on board for the long-term."