Agbonlahor issues Nathan Jones sack ultimatum after ‘gibbering’ Southampton quotes emerge
Gabby Agbonlahor has claimed that Southampton boss Nathan Jones should lose his job if he oversees a loss against fellow strugglers Wolves on Saturday (11 February).
The former Aston Villa striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 49-year-old needs to “calm down” with Saints fans “fuming” at his controversial media interviews.
As quoted by the BBC after Southampton’s 3-0 loss away at Brentford on Saturday (4 February), Jones said he has “pandered” to outside influence in his tenure so far – and suggested that he has made concessions to “Premier League players” at the club.
In reference to his time at Luton Town, the Welshman claimed he was “statistically one of the best in the country”.
Speaking on the BBC’s Monday Night Club podcast (6 February), former Blackburn and Celtic striker Chris Sutton called the interview “gibbering nonsense” and insisted he would “sack him now”.
Southampton sit rock bottom of the Premier League with just one win in the seven games since Jones took the reins in November.
Agbonlahor told Football Insider: “He needs to calm down.
“He was managing in the Championship with Luton. He did a good job, but this is the Premier League.
“He’s not got the results needed so far. He has been backed in the transfer market with £60million of players.
“You can’t come out and say you’ve been pandering to people and not doing it your way. Do it your way.
“Some managers can be too honest. You can do that if you’re a top-six manager, not if you’re bottom of the league.
“Now what he’s done is give the owners a decision to make. The fans are all fuming with what he’s said.
“Jesse Marsch has been sacked at Leeds, they’re above Southampton. If the owners don’t sack him now – what does that look like?
“They’ve got a tough game against Wolves on Saturday. If they lose, I can see him being sacked. He will regret that interview then.”
In other news, Football Insider updates as Southampton plot move for Rangers starlet after offer rejected.