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Mathew Davies

'I love Cardiff City' - what Luton Town boss Nathan Jones has said about Bluebirds and what he could never turn down

Cardiff City are back on the managerial hunt after parting company with Steve Morison.

The onset of autumn always seems to herald change at Cardiff City Stadium and with Morison now consigned to history in the Welsh capital, the search for his successor is now front and centre. You can follow live updates here.

First-team coach Mark Hudson is expected to get his chance to impress after taking the reins in the short term from Morison, and with the Bluebirds not playing again for another 10 days, the immediacy of the situation is not perhaps as pressing as it could be.

READ MORE: Ex-Cardiff City favourite urges Vincent Tan to go and get Luton Town boss Nathan Jones

Regardless, they will want clarity soon, and one name who has been constant since the news for Morison's departure is Nathan Jones. The Luton boss was a natural link given his Cardiff roots, with the Rhondda boy speaking about his affection for the club in an interview with WalesOnline in April of this year.

When asked if he still supported Cardiff, Jone said: "Absolutely. I grew up in the Rhondda valley where all my mates were Cardiff fans. I had the chance to sign for Bristol City or Cardiff City and I signed for Cardiff City.

"I worked on the turnstiles when I was an apprentice and then rushed and watched all the games. All my mates came down and then we would all go back and chat about the games. I love Cardiff City.

"I grew up in the Rhondda and it's either Cardiff or Swansea. There's probably more Cardiff fans in the Rhondda valley than Swansea. I want to see Welsh football do well. I played for Merthyr. I want to see Merthyr do well and Newport. It's better when Wrexham, Newport, Cardiff do well.

"I remember the Welsh Cup, it used to be a fantastic competition where people went at each other. Barry Town were spending money. I want to see Welsh football do really well. One of my good mates is doing fantastically well as interim Wales manager, Robert Page.

"I want to see Welsh football do really well... just not when I'm managing an English team up against them! But that's only normal because food on the table is better than passion in the heart."

Jones was also pressed on his desire to return to Wales at some point in his managerial future, and he revealed a telling response to the prospect of managing his country or hometown club.

"You never know where your career is going to take you," he said. "If I'm honest, I have a fierce drive to get to the Premier League. I left and went to Stoke because I believed that was my quickest route.

"But now I've come back and I really want to take Luton to the Premier League. I want to be at Luton, we are building something. We are nowhere near our evolution. At the minute we are pulling up trees on a really low budget.

"I love the club, the autonomy I have, the processes. As a manager that's all you can want. So it's not just about letting your heart manage you. Here at Cardiff, Steve has just come in and implemented something so he will need time.

"But, look, eventually, you never know. It's not something I can sit here now and say, 'Yeah, it's something I really want to do', but, being home in Wales, I love Wales, I am a very proud Welshman, it's a long way in the future but I would never turn that down."

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