‘You can’t go to Bluewater’ – Ex-Premier League boss begs stars to ‘sacrifice everything’ in another classic interview
NATHAN JONES has revealed an epic list of “sacrifices” he expects from his Charlton players AND their families.
Famous for his oddball quotes, Jones has produced one of his best with a selection of do’s and don’ts for the promotion hunters during their run-in.
And it’s far worse than more typical demands imposed by some clubs, like avoiding fast-food, being in bed early or forgoing nightclubs.
Because the Addicks manager has told his players not to go… shopping or bowling!
The ex-Luton chief even claimed it’s time to stop “walking around high-fiving and going to Costa Coffee”.
Perhaps Jones’ most notorious comment came when he explained why he took the Southampton job in 2022.
The Welshman said: “I could have stayed in a mining community, been a PE teacher and had a nice life, married a nice Welsh girl.
“I don’t. I want to test myself on every level and that’s nothing against Welsh women. I want to test myself.”
And last year he produced a different type of eye-catching interview.
Ecstatic following a 2-1 League One victory over Derby, Jones launched an X-rated boast – then backtracked when realising he was live on the BBC.
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He said: “We over-ran them, we f*****g… Sorry – we were aggressive in what we did and I’m really proud of the second half performance.”
This time Jones was explaining to Charlton’s media team the tough time in store – or rather, not in stores – for his players – amid the season’s finale.
Fourth-placed Charlton want a top-two finish or at least to keep hold of a play-off spot.
Jones, 51, said: “Going into eight weeks of your life now, where you sacrifice everything.
“You’re not shopping tomorrow. Not bowling. Your diet’s good.”
However, Jones also left himself open to accusations of stereotyping.
He added: “If your wife or your girlfriend wants to go shopping, wants to do that, they have to make the sacrifices.
“It’s a massive sacrifice for us – to achieve something – because you can’t now go to Bluewater, walking around high-fiving and going to Costa Coffee when you should be resting.”