NATHAN JONES has revealed an epic list of “sacrifices” he is expecting from Charlton players AND their families.
Famous for his oddball quotes, Jones has matched his best with a selection of do’s and don’ts for his promotion hunters during the run-in.
And it’s far worse than more typical demands imposed by some clubs, like avoiding fast-food, being in bed by 10pm, giving up nightclubs or even abstaining from sex.
Because the Addicks manager has told his players not to… go shopping… or bowling.
The ex-Luton chief also stressed it’s time to stop “walking around high-fiving and going to Costa Coffee”.
Jones’ most famous and arguably controversial comment came when he explained why he took the Southampton job in 2022.
The Welshman said then: “I could have stayed in a mining community, been a PE teacher and had a nice life, married a nice Welsh girl.
“I don’t. I want to test myself on every level and that’s nothing against Welsh women. I want to test myself.”
And 13 months ago he produced a different type of eye-catching interview.
Ecstatic following a 2-1 League One victory over Derby, he launched an X-rated boast – then quickly backtracked when he remembered he was live on BBC London.
He said: “We over-ran them, we f*****g… Sorry – we were aggressive in what we did and I’m really proud of the second half performance.”
This time the former Luton manager was explaining to Charlton’s own media team the tough time in store – or rather, not in stores – for his players during the season’s run-in.
Fourth-placed Charlton are targeting a top-two finish or at least holding onto a play-off spot.
Jones, 50, said: “Going into eight weeks of your life now, where you sacrifice everything.
“You’re not shopping tomorrow. Not bowling. Your diet’s good.”
And he also left himself open to old-fashioned stereotyping when he added: “If your wife or your girlfriend wants to go shopping, wants to do that, they have to make the sacrifices.
“It’s a massive sacrifice for us – to achieve something – because you can’t now go to Bluewater, walking around high-fiving and going to Costa Coffee when you should be resting.”
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