New Stoke boss Nathan Jones says he’s lost count of the number of times he’s cried after leaving Luton.
The 45-year-old was named as Gary Rowett’s successor on a three-and-a-half year deal on Wednesday.
Jones spent three successful years at Luton, helping them win promotion to League One last season, with the Hatters just five points off the leaders Portsmouth in the third tier currently.
And Jones, who takes charge of a Stoke side eight points adrift of the Championship play-offs, admitted it was an emotional exit from Kenilworth Road.
He said: “The amount of times I’ve cried from text messages from players… it makes me emotional because I was married to the club.
“It’s a calculated gamble but it’s the right step for me and the club. I think I’ve left them in the wonderful position.
“It really wasn’t (an easy decision). I had a really good place at Luton, it was a wonderful club. We were in a wonderful place.
“When it happens you just have to put things aside and think professionally. It was a real wrench, we built something special at Luton and it would have taken something special.
“I had opportunity to leave (before) and I never did, when this came up it was too good to turn down.
“It became the right decision but not an easy one.”
Stoke lie 14th in the second tier with Jones their third manager in 12 months following Rowett’s sacking on Tuesday.
But the former Brighton and Yeovil defender says he’s been given no time frame to get to the Potters back to the promised land following relegation last season.
He added: “I’m confident, I felt this was the right fit.
“It was a wrench leaving Luton and at no point had I taken them as far as I could go.
“But I didn’t want to start again, I didn’t want to go into a place where I’d have to rip the bones out of it.
“I don’t just want to be an attractive side, I want to be a successful side.
“We will get there, how quickly depends on everyone at the club.
“The greatest pressure I will be under will be from myself. The gap is eight points, what we have to do is instil a philosophy and a culture which takes the club forward long term.
“I don’t think there’s a timescale on it, I haven’t been told one.”
Jones will also give the squad, many of whom were in the Premier League last season when the manager was in League Two, a chance to buy into his philosophy.
He added: “I’ve seen no egos, not one ego, that goes from the hotel staff to the people at the club and especially the players.
“The best way to bridge a gap from lower leagues to where we are now is just do good work.”
