Southampton boss Nathan Jones tells critics to judge him at 'the end of the season'
- Planet Sport writer
- 14 January 2023
Southampton manager Nathan Jones has urged fans to set aside their negativity, get behind the team and judge him at the end of the season.
Saints go into Saturday's crunch relegation battle at Everton bottom of the table following four successive top-flight losses under Jones.
Many supporters were underwhelmed by the appointment of the Welshman as successor to Ralph Hasenhuttl in November and have since voiced displeasure at the standard of football on show.
Former Luton boss Jones earned some goodwill with a shock midweek Carabao Cup quarter-final success over Manchester City on the back of an FA Cup third-round victory at Crystal Palace.
He now wants the club to come together in their quest to remain in the division.
"I understand their frustrations," he said of the fans. "Can we not dwell on this any more? There has been a lot of negativity around.
"They have made their feelings clear, and I understand it. I do understand it. Do I think it's harsh? Maybe.
"But I understand it, considering I'm only three (four) games into a Premier League career.
"I understand the scepticism, I understand everything. All I'm saying is give me time. Then if at the end of the season I haven't won a Premier League game, I know exactly what will happen. But that won't happen. That won't happen.
"All I'm saying is let's forget the negativity now. We've turned some sort of corner, I think I've bought a little bit of respect for the way I work.
"All I can do now is try to hammer it home. If I do that, we can create something special here.
"There is no point in our fans being against us in anything because that doesn't create anything."
