Graeme Jones: Leaving West Brom in January wouldn't have been 'ethically correct'

Jones had helped former Baggies boss Darren Moore guide West Brom into promotion contention over the first half of the season, earning Luton's admiration in the process.

Following then-Hatters boss Nathan Jones' exit, Jones was quickly installed as one of the favourites to take over - with Luton willing to offer the former Belgium coach the job as manager.

Jones has spoken up about the situation following his appointment at Kenilworth Road, admitting that he wouldn't have left Albion in January, as the Baggies were his 'priority'.

"On the ninth of January, I could have come in and become Luton manager, I did not want to leave Darren Moore." he told Luton Today.

"Darren Moore has been a friend for 25 years, somebody I respect."

"I didn’t want to leave West Bromwich Albion Football Club, we were in the middle of a campaign to get out of the league.

"I don’t think it’s ethically correct to do that in the middle of a season, and at that point, they were my priority.

"I wasn’t prepared to leave Darren, I wasn’t prepared to leave West Brom, and the players, the players there were fantastic.

"I enjoyed working with every single one of them and enjoyed the football club, so I was totally committed to that."

Moore and Jones were both sacked by West Brom in March, much to the surprise of many football fans, given the club's position of fourth in the Championship.

The 49-year-old admitted that the decision came as a surprise, and believes Albion were in a 'strong position' upon their departure.

"It’s a Premier League club that came down and that’s not easy as Stoke have found out, as Swansea have found out, to make that club competitive." he said.

"There’s a real after effect when you get relegated from the Premier League and to make the club competitive is one of the things I’m most proud of in my career."

"Myself and Darren changed a style of play which isn’t easy, it takes time, sometimes it costs you results, and I think we were in a strong position.

"But the club decided to make a decision, which is their right and we all abide by it, and I’m now just looking forward as I’m in a privileged position at Luton Town.

"These things didn’t work out exactly how everybody planned, but as long as your conscious is clear and you give your best, then you can be happy and I certainly am."