One of the EFL’s most divisive managers could be about to return to the Championship after incredible run of form

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The race for automatic promotion is heating up in League One, with four teams fighting to join Birmingham City inside the top two.

A vital away win for Wrexham on Saturday against Wycombe Wanderers has seen them move into second above their hosts, but both Charlton Athletic and Stockport County are breathing down their necks in the race.

However, Charlton Athletic’s resurgence under manager Nathan Jones has been nothing short of remarkable, with the Addicks up to fourth and closing the gap on those below Birmingham by the game.

With just nine games remaining for most teams, and a mere five-point gap to bridge, Charlton finally appear on the verge of a return to the Championship after their impressive climb up the League One standings.

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Charlton Athletic and Nathan Jones eye Championship return

The Addicks have struggled to gather any sort of momentum to mount a challenge for the play-off and promotion spots in recent seasons, with the last campaign petering out into a 16th-placed finish.

That marked the club’s lowest league placement in 98 years, although there were signs of hope once Jones took to the dugout in February that things could be turned around at The Valley.

He arrived following the sacking of Michael Appleton, who struggled majorly during the latter stages of his tenure. Jones is a fairly divisive character but for what Charlton needed, he looked like the ideal fit and had the potential to be an excellent appointment.

Appleton’s career at The Valley was nothing short of dreadful — a stint that left Charlton teetering dangerously close to the drop zone. However, some Charlton fans were worried about Jones, too, because he struggled to keep Southampton afloat not long ago.

Still, the third tier is a different kettle of fish and he had thrived at this level before with Luton Town. Jones took the Hatters from League Two to the Championship and laid the foundations for their promotion to the Premier League — all while operating on a shoestring budget.

Jones’ methodical approach has resulted in a defensively robust unit for Charlton, as evidenced by their impressive record of 17 clean sheets in the league this season. It is a foundation upon which successful promotion campaigns are traditionally built, especially for Jones.

Clearly, Charlton are a club with a huge amount of potential and he would have the tools he needs to get the club back on track. But the same feeling is not shared by all Championship fans, especially those at Stoke City and with Premier League side Southampton.

The Welshman was thriving at Luton when the Saints came calling. It looked set to be a very tough decision for him but wasn’t the first instance of Jones moving elsewhere after he left Luton before to join Stoke — a move which proved to be a disaster.

Joining the Saints in November 2022, his reign lasted just four months, with the 50-year-old winning just one league game during that time. Then, with a record of just five wins in 35 league games in charge of Stoke, and a points-per-game average of 0.89, he racked up one of the worst managerial records in their history.

Those tenures were a cause for concern, but Jones now has Charlton flying in League One. Only Birmingham have accrued more points since the turn of the year than Jones and Charlton, who are serious challengers to Wycombe and Wrexham.

Jones is already a Hatters’ legend, with the best times of his career to date arriving with Luton. However, Charlton have an energy about them which is very similar to that of his Luton side. He could be about to make himself a legend at The Valley imminently as well.

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Charlton Athletic are on the verge of history under Nathan Jones

With Jones’ experience at taking Luton up from League Two, there weren’t many other managers more suited to the role at Charlton than the Welshman. It’s been a perfect fit so far under his tutelage.

The appointment of Jones was seen as a coup for the Addicks, and after the impact he made at The Valley last season and strong summer recruitment, many believed his side would be among the promotion contenders in the third tier this time around.

The Addicks can re-establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the second tier should Jones continue at his current rate of progress, with many believing that Jones is more than capable of leading them back into the second tier for the first time since 2020.

It’s been four seasons in League One for Charlton now, and having finished in the top half in two of their past three seasons, there is obvious potential in their squad, but many were surprised Jones decided to drop down to League one given his Premier League and Championship experience.

High floor football — meaning that they give up a low number of chances to the opposition — is often conducive to good results. That’s if it is paired with the attacking play required, which has been the switch they have flicked in recent weeks, as shown in the above.

For a club with Charlton’s historical standing, League One has always appeared to be a temporary residence rather than a permanent home. He could also trade places with his former sides Luton and Stoke, with the Hatters tipped for relegation in particular.

With critical fixtures against both Wycombe and Wrexham scheduled for late April, these encounters will likely prove decisive in determining Charlton’s fate — and their opponents — and whether it is potentially a fairytale second-place ending for the Addicks in 2024/25.