How Nathan Jones reacted to Thierry Small leaving Charlton Athletic for Preston North End.
Nathan Jones has reacted to Thierry Small’s departure from Charlton Athletic for Preston North End.
The defender left the Addicks after helping them win promotion to the Championship last season. Small was an important member of the team as they finished fourth in the table and won the play-offs with a 1-0 victory over Leyton Orient at Wembley Stadium. The 20-year-old appeared 39 times in the regular season, scoring two goals and adding three assists. However, due to the end of his contract, he has decided to join Deepdale ahead of the next campaign.
Nathan Jones’ reaction to Thierry Small’s exit
Jones has responded to Small’s departure, stating that the club wanted to keep the player beyond his current contract. However, the Charlton manager stated that the defender could not be persuaded to re-sign, instead wishing him all the best for the rest of his career. “We wish Thierry all the best,” Jones stated on the club’s official website. “We tried to keep him at the club and gave him a contract, but he declined. “He felt Preston was a better fit for him, so we thank him for his contribution and wish him well.” Small joined Charlton in the 2024 January transfer window, arriving from Southampton on an initial deal that kept him there for just the end of that season.
However, his strong performances, including a debut goal against Bolton Wanderers, prompted the Addicks to trigger an extension provision in his contract, keeping him at the Valley until 2025. However, the London club was unable to lock him down to an even longer term, prompting his departure at the end of the season. Not even promotion to the Championship could persuade him to stay, prompting a move to Paul Heckingbottom’s team.
Thierry Small’s first words as a Preston player
Small discussed the decision to move from the Valley to Deepdale, stating that it was a difficult one to make. He cited discussions with Heckingbottom as a crucial component in his decision to join the Lancashire team, where he hopes to continue improving and strengthening his game. “I’m over the moon,” Small stated on the club’s YouTube channel. “This is an exciting period in my career, and I can’t wait to get started.
| Thierry Small – Charlton Athletic league goals and appearances (per Fbref.com) | ||||
| Season | Appearances (Starts) | Goals (Assists) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 14 | 1 (1) | ||
| 2024-25 | 39 (32) | 2 (3) | ||
“Leaving Charlton has always been a difficult decision. “But after chatting with the manager here, I felt that this was the next step for me in my career, in terms of development and moving my game to the next level. “For me, it’s just to keep on learning, keep on developing and I feel like Preston’s the best club for me to do that whilst helping the team and hopefully achieving some success.” Small will be seeking to assist Preston improve on their disappointing 20th-place finish in the Championship last season, when the squad finished only one point above the relegation zone.
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