Lloyd Jones reveals Charlton Athletic stance after Wycombe Wanderers interest

Charlton Athletic centre-back Lloyd Jones has revealed why he’s signed a new contract at The Valley in January amid transfer interest from fellow promotion-chasers Wycombe Wanderers.

Towards the end of the January transfer window, the 29-year-old penned a new deal that will keep him at Charlton until the summer of 2027, and brought an end to the Chairboys’ pursuit of the defender.

Football League World exclusively revealed that Wycombe had seen a bid for Jones rejected by the Addicks last month, as they looked to strengthen their defence for the second half of their promotion push this season.

Wycombe instead re-signed Caleb Taylor on loan from West Bromwich Albion the day after Jones’ new deal at Charlton was announced.

Now, Charlton’s vice-captain has spoken about his reasons for staying at The Valley when he could have departed in January.

Lloyd Jones makes “yo-yo” club claim

Jones discussed his decision to sign a new contract at Charlton during an interview that was posted on the club’s official YouTube channel ahead of their trip to Leyton Orient on Saturday.

“I’ve said it a few times, but I think this club is a bit of a sleeping giant,” Jones said.

“I would rather be at a big club that has got potential than go somewhere where it is like a yo-yo club.

“It is not a League One club.

“I think with the manager and the staff, and the group we have got, I do not think it will be there.”

It seems as though Jones has confidence that Charlton can win promotion back to the Championship under the management of his namesake, Nathan, while he perhaps also felt that he would be less likely to survive in the second tier if he had joined another club.

As Wycombe were the club that Jones was primarily linked with in January, it would be fair to assume they were likely the yo-yo club he was referencing in his interview. The Chairboys spent one season in the Championship during the 2020/21 season, but they finished 22nd and were relegated back to League One just 12 months after gaining promotion.

Charlton, on the other hand, have only spent one of the last eight seasons in the Championship, as they also made an immediate return to League One after winning promotion via the play-offs in 2019, but Jones clearly has faith that the club is now set to move forward during the next couple of years.

Lloyd Jones has faith in “sleeping giant” Charlton

Charlton are currently well in contention to finish inside the top six in League One this season, which would be an excellent achievement considering the position they were in when Nathan Jones was appointed as manager last year.

Wycombe find themselves in the automatic promotion places as things stand, but with Wrexham hot on their heels, it is not out of the question that they could join Charlton in the play-offs.

Jones’ comments about Charlton being a “sleeping giant” show he believes the club will make progress now that he has signed his new contract, but Wycombe would no doubt love to make him wish that he had signed for them by winning promotion and establishing themselves as a Championship club instead.

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