New Charlton manager Nathan Jones says he took the reins at the Valley as he believes the club can “go places”.
Jones held “extensive” talks with the League One club’s owners, Global Football Partners, before accepting the job and was assured they are in it for the long haul.
Charlton first approached Jones in September after they had sacked Dean Holden, but he was not ready to return to management then following a nightmare spell at Southampton.
The 50-year-old was sacked by Southampton in February after losing nine of his 14 games during just 95 days in charge.
Jones is now refreshed after a break, which he used to spend time with his family, and is ready to steer Charlton away from the relegation places.
“I had a number of opportunities to go back in,” said Jones, who began his career over a decade ago coaching Charlton’s Under-21 side.
“As I said, [there were] Championship clubs, I had a chance to go abroad and other League One clubs - but Charlton has a little bit of a place in my heart, if I’m honest.
“I know it is a fantastic club. I know obviously the predicament and the situation it is in now, but this is a place that can really go places.
“I spoke to the owners. It was an extensive process, because I needed to know as well that the owners are in it for the long term. They want to do good things and they want to take Charlton to the levels it has been before - and that’s the project I wanted.
“From my dealings with the ownership group here now, they are in it for the long haul. They want to build something, which is what attracted me.”
Charlton sacked Michael Appleton last month after a 12-game winless that leaves them 19th and one point above the relegation places.
Unlike Appleton, Jones will hold the title of manager not head coach and the 50-year-old explained it is part of the wider remit he will have to transform Charlton.
“I don’t mind being a head coach, but if certain things on recruitment need driving, certain things around environment need driving and a lot of other things, then that’s the role of a manager,” said Jones.
“So that’s why I am a manager, so that I have got slightly more responsibilities than a normal quintessential head coach would have.”
