Hatters Ful of Prem hope

THEY might have stopped producing expert ping pong players, but Luton’s footballers under Nathan Jones could soon be performing on football’s top table.

The Hatters have been the surprise package in the Championship promotion scramble, thanks to the brave decision to bring back Jones who had upset many fans by quitting after three successful years in mid-season for Stoke in January 2019.

He only lasted 10 months in the Potteries after just six wins in 38 games and, when Luton parted company with Graeme Jones in May 2020, Jones answered the call to help guide the club to Championship safety.

It was not exactly the return of the prodigal son, with many Hatters supporters still hurt by his abrupt departure in the midst of a League One promotion campaign.

“I had a fantastic relationship with the fans and I betrayed them,” he admitted.

But all is now forgiven as Luton face alreadypromoted Fulham tomorrow at Craven Cottage and finish the regular season off at home to Reading almost guaranteed a place in the play-offs.

Last weekend he was named Championship Manager of the Year at the EFL awards night – recognition of the job he has done as Kenilworth

Road hopes to stage topflight football for the first time in 30 years.

Eight years ago, Luton were playing non-league.

John Still brought them up and Jones (above) continued the recovery.

“It’s been an incredible journey,” he added. “Now I believe we are the envy of a lot of other clubs.

“Our recruitment has been first class and we don’t have any superstars. We’ve got a squad of players who are hungry and want to achieve things. Who knows what they can go to achieve?”

But they have had to put the table tennis bats away.

Jones said: “When I first arrived back, I sensed that a real table tennis culture had developed – that some of the players were more concerned about beating one another at that than making an impression as footballers.

“There was only one thing for it – I decided to have the table tennis table burnt!”

Now the only nets his players are concerned about are the ones on the football pitch.

“I would love to be the manager who takes the club into the Premier League,” Jones added. “As the season has progressed, that has been more and more a realistic target.”

So why did it all go wrong at Stoke?

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing,” he said. “Although I admit my record there was poor, I have no bitterness over what happened – not one bit.

“Life is a learning curve. Hopefully, there is plenty more to learn.”

Starting in the Premier League.