We are deeply saddened to report the passing of our former player and assistant manager, Mick Jones.
Mick enjoyed a variety of successes at Meadow Lane, perhaps most notably as assistant to Neil Warnock during our incredible rise to the First Division in the early 90s.
His contributions as a player should not be disregarded, however, as he played 37 games in our 1970-71 Division Four-winning season before being involved in another promotion campaign two years later.
Our all-time leading goalscorer, Les Bradd, has fond memories of playing with Mick.
“When he joined us from Derby, Jimmy Sirrel used him as our midfield ball-winner,” recalled Les.
“He was instrumental in breaking up opposition attacks and was under instruction to pass the ball on to our playmaker, Don Masson.
“Mick was integral in our success in the early seventies – he fought tooth and nail for every ball and was a must in our team.
“We loved him as a team-mate and he was brilliant off the pitch, too. He was a wonderful part of that group.”
Les was delighted to be reunited with Mick when he returned to Meadow Lane as assistant manager to Chris Kiwomya in 2013.
“In his time working with Neil at Leeds United he’d been keeping tabs on two players – Jack Grealish and Callum MacGregor,” said Les.
“After coming back to Notts he kept in touch with both players’ agents and managed to bring them to Meadow Lane on loan. What a success they proved to be!
“He certainly had an eye for a player.”
After moving on to Peterborough before sampling life as a player-coach in Canada with Ottawa Tigers, Mick returned to England to take up the position of player-manager at Kettering Town before going on to hold coaching and management positions at Mansfield Town, Bradford City, Derby County and Halifax Town.
He then took the reins at Peterborough, where he first met Neil, and later became his assistant at Notts, Huddersfield Town and Plymouth Argyle, who he managed for a short time following Warnock’s departure.
Mick’s next move was an unconventional one as he became manager of Brunei’s national team, who he did brilliantly to help win the Malaysia Cup in 1999.
After spells as assistant at Nuneaton Borough and Telford United following his return to England, Jones reunited with Warnock at Sheffield United before working with him at Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers and Leeds United.
When announcing the news on his Twitter account, Neil said: "We had some unbelievable times. Mick was the sensible one. I’ll miss him loads. Boy did we have some laughs. RIP."
Neil will be at Meadow Lane as our special hospitality guest for the visit of Chesterfield on Saturday 20 August, when a minute’s applause will be held in tribute to Mick.
Our thoughts are with Mick’s loved ones at this very sad time.