GIVE ME TIME TO MAKE MY MARK – JONES

NATHAN Jones has urged Stoke fans to be patient as he looks to make his mark on the club, saying: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

The 45-year-old has been in charge at the bet365 Stadium for a month, leaving Luton to replace Gary Rowett.

When asked to describe his first four-and-a-half weeks at the club, Jones said: “Hectic. Really, really hectic.

“It has been a real learning curve for me in terms of lots of things, but it has been good, very productive.

“We are in a better place now than we were in terms of structure and so on – we are in a similar position league-wise but in a much healthier environment now I believe.

“It will continue to get better day by day, but I won’t sit here and say it hasn’t been a tough start because it really has.

“The games have been tough too, playing Leeds and West Brom at home and Brentford away and an in-form Hull, too – it has been very challenging.

“I’m not making excuses in any way, but it hasn’t been the easiest start, especially considering we are trying to change things and implement new ideas.

“We’ve got to get points on the board quickly to try to gain us some real momentum.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day and things do take time, especially when you are trying to make big changes, as we are here.”