By Matthew Bishop
Luton Town manager Nathan Jones has spoken of his dreams to become “the best manager in the world” ahead of this weekend's crucial clash in the League Two promotion race with local rivals Stevenage.
Jones enjoyed a short, but impressive, temporary spell in charge at former club Brighton in 2014/15, but his role at Kenilworth Road is the 43-year-old's first full-time managerial job.
The Welshman has done brilliantly since replacing John Still, winning over 50% of his games in charge, and the Hatters are now fourth in the fourth tier, flying towards promotion having tasted defeat just once in their last ten matches.
The impressive form Luton have shown has highlighted the ability of Jones, and the former full-back, who has also coached at Yeovil and Charlton, told a Supporters' Trust evening: “I want to be the best manager in the world, and until I get there I won't stop trying.
“I may never get there, I might not get anywhere near.
“But until I exhaust every resource then that's what I want to do. It's ambitious, but you have to have ambition.”
Despite his dreams of reaching the top, Jones was keen to stress that he doesn't view Luton as a stepping stone, and is enjoying every second of his time at such a “big club.”
Tomorrow's match against Stevenage begins a crucial seven days in Luton's season that sees them take on fellow promotion chasers Carlisle and Exeter, a run that will play a huge part in deciding what league the Hatters will be in next season.
Three wins would be a huge step towards the third tier, but Jones believes they can go even higher, and would love to be a part of that, saying: “I'm not a fly-by-night. I want to build something here.
“We have a top Championship environment at the club in terms of how we train and our infrastructure.
“We will achieve what we want to do. We will go to the next level and the one after that. It won't be long until we're a Championship club.
“I love the club and I want to take the club forward. I want to move forward myself and look, if I'm here in 20 years' time and we're a Premier League club, that'll be fine by me.
“I want to be here long-term. I love the club. I love you the fans.”
