NEW boss Nathan Jones wants to give Saints fans a team they “can be really proud of and can relate to” as he begins his quest at the St Mary’s club.

The 49-year-old on Thursday signed a contract until 2026 on the south coast, having left Championship Luton Town.

Jones got a taste of the atmosphere at St Mary’s on Wednesday, seeing the hosts beat Sheffield Wednesday 6-5 on penalties to progress in the Carabao Cup.

Asked for a message to the fans in his first interview with the club website, Jones said: “I’m really excited. I will work tirelessly to create environments and cultures that are aggressive, that are front-footed. That want to win football games.

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“I want Southampton to have a clear identity, I want us to be a team that the fans can be really proud of and can relate to.

“I want the people of Southampton to look at the players and be proud of that team and how they go about their work.

“Win, lose or draw – they know they have got a proper group and a proper team that wants to play for Southampton and that’s what I want to really implement here.

“There’s a great group, I know that. There’s a real good group. Yes it’s going to take a little bit of time to implement all we want to do.

“But I know that if we get the backing of the players, if the fans get behind us, if we are united as one team, one goal in terms of everything, I know we can be successful at this level.”

Asked whether it was important to build that relationship with supporters, the former Stoke boss said: “Absolutely. We will build that, I’m sure.

“Results take that, performances take that. Yeah, I’m a passionate guy, I want to win. Sometimes that gets the better of me at times but it all comes from a good place.

“I work very hard. I make many sacrifices to be the best I can be, so do my family. I want to build that rapport with them – I want them to see they have a manager that cares about their football club.

“First and foremost they have to see the manager that can do the work at the football club and take the club forward.

“If we can prove that in the initial period, then I’m sure we will build a wonderful rapport with them than can drive the club forward.”

Jones is set to take charge of Saints for the first time when they make the trip to face Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday (3pm).

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