Although he’s not everyone’s cup of tea, Nathan Jones would be a perfect fit for the Lions.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Millwall remains managerless after parting ways with Gary Rowett. Adam Barrett is the caretaker manager for now, but the club needs fresh direction.
- Several candidates are in the running for the Millwall job, including Kevin Muscat, Michael Beale, and Joe Edwards. Nathan Jones is a significant contender.
- Jones’ managerial stats are impressive, particularly during his time at Luton Town. He has a successful track record and could be a good fit for Millwall.
After nearly four years in leadership, Millwall decided to mutually part ways with Gary Rowett more than two weeks ago, and as of right now, the South Bermondsey team is still without a manager.
Adam Barrett, who has only managed to earn two of a possible nine points in his three games in the dugout, will serve as interim manager for this weekend’s match against Southampton at The Den.
Although it is obvious that the Lions need new leadership, chairman James Berylson is naturally taking his time in selecting Rowett’s replacement—and given how long he was in charge, that may be a good move.
Who is vying for the position at Millwall?
A number of candidates have been linked with the exciting vacancy at Millwall, including Kevin Muscat – currently in charge of Japanese outfit Yokohama F. Marinos but he played for the Lions as a defender between 2003 and 2005.
Also linked with the job is recently departed Rangers head coach Michael Beale, who is looking for a quick return to management followng his disappointing time north of the border, but Millwall also have other candidates in mind.
Head coach of England’s under-20 team Joe Edwards is one that surprised everyone. Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail claims that Frank Lampard’s former assistant at Chelsea and Everton had discussions with the Lions hierarchy.
Nathan Jones, though, is a strong candidate who, according to John Percy of The Telegraph, has impressed both Berylson and the hiring team for the position of manager.
Why would Nathan Jones be a good fit for Millwall?
Jones’ tenure at Luton Town is illustrative, as the Welshman laid the groundwork for the Hatters’ inaugural Premier League appearance.
Although the Hatters lost to Blackpool in his first full season, he led the team to the fourth-tier play-offs his first year at Kenilworth Road in 2016. The following year, in 2018, he went one better, leading the team to League One by finishing in second place.
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After setting Luton up for promotion to the Championship in 2018–19, Jones abandoned the team to pursue a more lucrative opportunity at Stoke City. However, he returned to Bedfordshire a little over a year later to prevent Town from being demoted to League One.
A solid 12th-placed finish in 2020-21 followed and then in 2021-22, Luton – punching above their weight considering their budget – lost out in the play-off semi finals to Huddersfield, showing that Jones was doing a fantastic job.
That saw Southampton come calling last November when Jones had Luton in a very good place in the second tier, and whilst his stint at the Saints was a disaster and he was not the right fit for the club, the building blocks he put in place at his previous club were the starting point for Rob Edwards to finish the job.
| Nathan Jones’ Managerial Stats | |||||
| Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win Percentage | |
| Luton Town | 170 | 87 | 46 | 37 | 51.2% |
| Stoke City | 38 | 6 | 15 | 17 | 15.8% |
| Luton Town | 133 | 54 | 37 | 42 | 40.6% |
| Southampton | 14 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 35.7% |
There is a strong possibility that Jones will only be useful for one team, and if there is a Championship team where the 50-year-old could succeed, it is Millwall.
The Lions’ budget may not be the largest, but Jones’ track record says it all—he has never truly needed money.
Yes, Jones does have a slight preference for direct football, but Rowett also had that preference, and he performed admirably at Millwall in the Championship when compared to teams with far larger budgets.
The current Millwall team could fit into Jones’ systems as well. At Luton, Jones preferred a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 formation, but the latter included a diamond midfield consisting of a number 10, two runners, and a holder.
Jones has a wealth of midfield players at The Den at his disposal. While it might not be ideal for quick, nimble wingers like Aidomo Emakhu and Romain Esse, there would still be a role for those young players as strikers, wing-backs, or substitutes off the bench.
The work Jones accomplished at Luton is remarkably similar to what he could do at Millwall, where the team possesses a youthful and experienced mix and is full of fight and effort; all it needs is a little more managerial skill to propel them into the top six.
And despite the fact that some find Jones’ style and manner unappealing, he might be the perfect fit for Millwall FC.
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