Nathan Jones admits the Southampton job was ‘a big learning curve’ after Saints’ relegation

Nathan Jones has admitted he would take a different approach to the Southampton job if he was given another chance by the club. 

The Saints’ relegation from the Premier League was confirmed on Saturday following a 2-0 home loss to Fulham. 

Southampton dismissed Jones, who took over from Ralph Hasenhuttl, in February after three months in charge following a poor run of form that saw them lose seven of the eight league matches under the Welshman. 

Speaking to Sky Sports, Jones said: ‘I’ve had a lot of time to reflect, as I always do. I wanted to go there and be successful. That wasn’t the case, and if you’re not successful it’s important that you learn.

‘I’ve reflected on my time and looked at things I would’ve done differently. It’s one of those things and it’s been a big learning curve for me.’ 

Nathan Jones has admitted he would take a different approach to the Southampton job

The Saints lost seven of the eight games under the Welshman before his sacking in February

Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League was confirmed on Saturday afternoon

Jones left Southampton rooted to the bottom of the Premier League after they picked up 15 points from a possible 66. 

His successor Ruben Selles won two of his first three matches in charge  but the losses returned again and he was unable to come to the rescue of the Saints. 

Asked if he would have kept the club up, Jones said: ‘Whatever I answer, I feel that’s a bit of a loaded question.

‘All I know is that had I got the results, I would’ve kept improving the team because of the work we do. I believe in the work we do but it is difficult to say as the last thing I want is another headline.’

On what he would have done differently, the 49-year-old added: ‘There are a lot of things – I wouldn’t want to go into them now, but certainly things when I first arrived. It’s a wonderful club and I felt I had the trust of the owners.

‘I just wish I could’ve bought myself a bit more time in order to implement what I wanted to and what they wanted me to implement.’

Saturday marked the side’s latest disappointment as they lost 2-0 to Fulham, with Carlos Vinicius opening the scoring just after half time.

They barely threatened against Marco Silva’s side and were branded ‘hopeless’ by Jeff Stelling on Sky Sports, with Aleksandar Mitrovic returning from his eight-game ban to make it 2-0 on 72 minutes.

The full time whistle saw Saints players fall to the floor with boos heard around the ground, but in truth the club’s fate was accepted week ago and preparation for next year can now commence.