Exclusive: Charlton Athletic board lauded for big Nathan Jones decision | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer has given his verdict on Nathan Jones' impact at Charlton Athletic

Carlton Palmer has credited the Charlton Athletic board for their patience in sticking with Nathan Jones amid their play-off push.

The Addicks had a run of just three wins in 16 league games from August to December that threatened the manager’s position.

But a run of eight wins and one draw from their last 10 fixtures has seen them climb the League One table and into promotion contention.

The London outfit currently occupy a play-off place, but they still face stiff competition from the likes of Bolton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town and Reading with 12 games remaining.

Carlton Palmer credits Charlton’s patience

Palmer believes that the decision-makers at Charlton deserve credit for sticking with Jones amid the pressure that was on his position in the first half of the campaign.

He warned there are many factors behind a successful coach, and that giving the 51-year-old time is key to him figuring everything out at the Valley.

“The Charlton Athletic board deserve credit for sticking with Nathan Jones,” Palmer exclusively told Football League World.

“Like I’ve said, it’s not easy when a manager goes into a football club, and there's a lot of different facets to being successful.

“It’s having the right players, it’s getting the manager’s message across, sometimes the players might not be fit, it takes a couple of transfer windows to bring players in.

“I know I spoke to some Charlton Athletic supporters, they weren’t happy, the way that they were playing, but it just needs to take time and credit to the board, they’ve stuck with him.

“They’re in a play-off place now, eight points adrift from automatic, and he’s done a fantastic job.”

Carlton Palmer praises Jones’ impact at Charlton

Palmer has praised Jones for turning things around and making his Charlton side hard to beat, and believes the team are now in a great position to compete for promotion.

“I think it’s far too easy to just sack a manager these days, or move the manager on, it’s important that you give them a bit of patience and now Charlton are on an unbelievable run,” he continued.

“They’re playing well, they’re making themselves hard to beat, they understand the way the manager wants to play, the way the manager wants to press the game, which means you have to be fit, you have to be able to do it, you have to have the belief.

“Once you start getting results, then the players believe in what the manager is asking them to do.

“He’s done a great job at Luton Town as we know before, getting them promoted, and it’s going to be very difficult for Charlton in a strong league, but he’s doing a fantastic job at the moment.

“All being well, a few more results, they’ll have secured a play-off place and given themselves a chance at getting promotion.

“But credit to the board for having the patience and seeing that Nathan Jones has given the opportunity for the players that were brought into the football club to settle down and gel in the way that he wanted them to play.”

Jones appointment coming together for Charlton

Jones was a strong appointment by Charlton after so many false dawns in the recent past.

His track record at this level is strong, even if his more high profile gigs of late hurt his reputation, particularly when he was at Southampton.

It was worth giving him time to turn things around, as there was such clear evidence he could be the man to guide Charlton forward.

That patience is now paying off, and they will surely be in the mix for promotion this year, and will fancy their chances of winning the play-offs if they keep up their current form.