NATHAN Jones wants to build something special at Charlton Athletic – and stressed Addicks fans are indispensable in the process.
Jones has made a spectacular impact at The Valley since replacing Michael Appleton last month. He delivered Charlton’s first League One win and home win since last November, and first away win since last October.
The Addicks were in deep relegation danger when they appointed Jones, but are now nine points clear of the bottom four with seven games left.
Charlton fans have packed out away ends under Jones despite the team’s struggles this season. And they have sold out Exeter City on Good Friday – with 1,335 of them making the trip.
“The supporters have seen a team that goes out there to try and win football matches, that works hard, that grafts, that’s energetic,” Jones said on Charlton’s website. “We’re only in our infancy really in terms of our development but the fans have seen that, responded to that and been excellent.
“I think it has been a joint venture in terms of players, staff and the fans, but they’ve really, really bought into it. Then what they’ve done is, and you expect it from Charlton fans because they are magnificent, travelled in their numbers. Let’s be honest, it’s been a brutal schedule. Coming up to the Exeter game will be my tenth game in charge and seven of those have been away. The demands on the fans have been phenomenal and unfair really, but they’ve responded, they’ve travelled, they’ve backed us and they’ve been superb.
“To be fair, I always knew Charlton fans were excellent because of playing here and then being here and seeing when the team is a good team and I can see that developing now. The fans have been brilliant and they’ve got such a big part to play.”
Jones added: “We’re trying to build something and without a full stadium, without fans coming through the door, that will be a slower process. I want them to buy into everything we’re doing here. If they get on board right at the start, imagine when we’re successful and we’re back where we want to be. They can say, ‘I’ve been there for years, I’ve been through the tough times and right at the start I backed this’, and then they’re part of the process. That’s what we want them to be – part of this process. To get on board right at the start and to see the journey right through.
“We want them to buy into something and show that they are right here with us and we’ll give them a team that they can be proud of.”
