Jones in warning to stars
NATHAN JONES has warned some of his Stoke players will fall by the wayside in his bid to turn them into promotion contenders.
Jones takes over with the pre-season Championship title favourites in 14th.
He knows he has a job on his hands after stepping up from League One promotion contenders Luton to replace Gary Rowett.
Jones, 45, said: “Everyone is in our thinking. We’ll be able to quickly decipher who we can take forward and there will be one or two who fall by the wayside.
“That is part and parcel of changing a culture and philosophy at a club. But it won’t be because they are bad eggs, it’s just how we want to go.”
Jones, a committed Christian, has praying hands and the crucifixion tattooed on his left arm, Jesus Christ on his right and Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam across his back.
He believes his faith will give him guidance, saying: “Your faith enables you to see things differently, to have a different perspective on life.
“I believe I’m on a journey and I believe it’s all God’s will. So I work hard on that journey to be the best I can be and if I can respond a little bit to God’s guidance, then I’m in a good place.”
Luton, who have named club legend Mick Harford as caretaker manager, want West Brom No.2 Graeme Jones to replace Jones.