When John Still left Luton Town to join Dagenham and Redbridge, the Hatters were in need of a new managerial appointment.

The hierarchy at Kenilworth Road moved to make an appointment best suited for the League Two side.

Andy Awford was put in caretaker charge over the Christmas period before the club announced the appointment of Nathan Jones as Luton’s permanent first-team manager.

Jones took over with the club 15th in the fourth-tier and stuck firmly in mid-table, and the initial reaction to the appointment of Jones was a favourable one.

After his first few months in the job, Luton finished 11th that season and the year after there was a marked improvement.

Jones guided his Hatters side to fourth in the division and a League Two play-off semi-final tie with Blackpool. 

A 6-5 aggregate defeat over the two legs left Luton reeling having been on the brink of a return to League One.

In the Welshman’s second full season in charge, that initial reaction to the appointment was justified in the most impressive way.

Luton Town finished second in the division after winning automatic promotion to the third-tier after two-and-a-half years of steady progression under Jones.

It has been all positive since Jones’ arrival at Kenilworth Road, and the club have adjusted relativity well in League One after their promotion last term.

Jones’ appointment and the reaction after that has been fully justified and backed-up with the performance of the current team and manager having done a stellar job since his appointment on a cold January day in 2016.