Luton boss: Jervis and Jones weren’t wasted signings

Luton boss Nathan Jones didn’t believe that either Jake Jervis or Lloyd Jones should be considered as wasted signings for the Hatters after confirming neither would be offered a new deal at Kenilworth Road.

The pair arrived in January 2018, both being brought in by Jones during his first spell in charge at Kenilworth Road.

Striker Jervis joined for an undisclosed fee from Plymouth Argyle, but went on to make just two league starts in his 14 appearances, scoring one goal in the Carabao Cup this term, and ended the campaign on loan at League Two Salford City.

While former Liverpool defender Jones played 14 times, but had only one league start and he too headed out on loan, featuring for Northampton Town.

Jones felt the pair had been worthy additions though, as he continued: “Some, like Jake and Lloyd have had limited exposure.

“I explained to Jake Jervis that we brought him in to play, then the level that others were attaining meant that he didn’t have the game time.

“But he provided that competition, people might think he was a waste, but he wasn’t because by having him in the building, he provided that competition that James Collins, Danny Hylton, Isaac Vassell, Elliot Lee and all those players went through the roof.

“Jack Marriott, at the time, was still here and they all went through the roof.

“It was just unfortunate and that’s happened to the football club.

“It’s wrong to call them casualties, but they will go on, I’m sure, to have productive careers and we wish them all the well.”

Jones also released Marek Stech, Frankie Musonda and Donervon Daniels, admitting it’s always a difficult part of the job to make such a decision.

He continue: “It’s always tough to tell people that they’re not going to get contracts, but what we’ve had to do is make sure that we make decisions now, looking ahead.

“Those were ones we were able to make and were categorical, we won’t be able to take them forward.

“We’ve spoken to everyone individually, no problem with anyone and we wish them all the best because they’ve been good servants for however long they’ve been here.”

The departure of Stech, who played 49 times for Luton since the summer of 2017, leaves Town with three goalkeepers on their books in Simon Sluga, James Shea and Harry Isted.

On what that means for Isted’s progression, the 23-year-old limited to two appearances since signing at the same time as Stech, Jones added: “It tests him. We have faith in him.

“With Marek (Stech) it was the right thing to do.

“We weren’t offering Marek a new deal. He, I believe, has secured something, moving forward, so it was only fair, really and he gets to spend time with his family,

“James Shea is ahead of Marek and then with Harry, he might get tested.”