So many reasons for Nathan Jones to keep building at Charlton Athletic

Timing of Cardiff City interest may aide manager's summer plans

As starts to the week go, it could have been quieter.

I’ve been trying to get my head around how to use Substack (and I’m not technically that proficient) as well as other elements of embarking into the freelance world.

But at the same time there was speculation rumbling on over the weekend that Nathan Jones was in the running to be the next Cardiff City manager.

We’ve been here before with a Charlton Athletic boss winning promotion to the Championship at Wembley and then the sudden backdrop of uncertainty about their future. But the scenario is not the same.

Lee Bowyer was heading into the final weeks of his contract in June 2019. The celebratory hangovers after the Addicks defeated Sunderland had barely subsided before fears grew that he was going to be off. It descended into a game of bluff and owner Roland Duchatelet held his nerve, refusing to give Bowyer the bumper new deal that he felt his success merited. The fact Bowyer wanted to stay undoubtedly helped that the doomsday scenario did not play out. The fact that Bowyer only got a 12-month contract was insulting but also reflected Duchatelet’s firm intent to sell the football club.

Jones is not in the same boat as the former Addicks midfielder. He still has plenty of time to run on his contract. Charlton have a more settled ownership structure - Sky Sports’ coverage captured co-owner Gabriel Brener excitedly hugging Jones when he went up to the Royal Box, with his players, to get their hands on the League One play-off final trophy.

It’s no surprise that Jones, born in the Rhondda Valley, has attracted the attention of Cardiff. The 52-year-old has talked before about wanting to one day manage the club that he supports. As the Charlton celebrations started on the pitch at Wembley at the end of last month, Jones made a beeline for one lower section of the stadium - clocking a Welsh flag in the crowd. He gestured for it to be gifted to him and draped it around his shoulders as the party started in earnest on the lush green turf.