Gregory’s boy happy to be back up north

MIKE Jones isn’t yet sure if the rage levels in the technical area will match up to his previous club.

But he is certain he has made the right move in swapping Crawley for Athletic.

The Birkenhead-born midfield man has ambitions to play in the Championship.

And he says his switch north is not one made solely for family reasons, but also because he believes Athletic can push on to the upper reaches of Sky Bet League One this season — with or without vocal histrionics from the sidelines.

“John Gregory was a very passionate man and he was great,” said Jones of his ex-boss at Crawley.

“He would rant and rave from the touchline — and I am not sure the gaffer (Lee Johnson) is like that.

“I did enjoy my time there and haven’t got a bad word to say about anybody at the club.

“But being back home was a big thing and hopefully we can push on this year and be up there.

“I haven’t come here to be around relegation or mid-table.

“There are good players here and a good squad. Hopefully, we can kick on.

“It’s a good set of down-to-earth lads and hopefully that will set us up.”

Jones, who has consistently played in the centre of midfield in each of Athletic’s pre-season games, says that Johnson’s desire to field him in the team’s engine room was a big factor in his choosing to sign for the club.

“The gaffer played a really big part in it and that was the main one, really,” Jones added. “He sees me playing in the role that I also want to play in.

“He’s a very ambitious manager and hopefully we can achieve good things together.”

The absence of a sleeping giant in the division improves Athletic’s chances of success, argues Jones.

“You have to aim high,” said the former Tranmere and Bury player, who turned out for Sheffield Wednesday in their last campaign in League One before promotion to the Championship two years ago.

“This year, the league will be an open one. That is not saying it will be easy, but there is not a big club like a Wolves or a Sheffield Wednesday in the division.

“Someone will take it by the scruff of the neck and be up there and there is no reason why it can’t be us.”