STOKE City have announced former Southend United defender Nathan Jones as their new manager.

The Championship club sacked Gary Rowett on Tuesday and agreed a compensation fee with Luton after being given permission to speak with Jones on Wednesday morning.

And the switch was sealed yesterday.

“Nathan Jones is the new manager of Stoke City, the club are delighted to confirm,” Stoke announced on their official website.

“The 45-year-old Welshman takes up the reins at the bet365 Stadium after the Potters agreed a compensation package with his former club Luton Town.”

Rowett paid the price for Stoke’s poor first half of the season, which has left them in 14th place after eight wins from 26 matches following their relegation from the Premier League.

Jones guided Luton to promotion last season having been appointed in January 2016 and the club are currently second in League One.

He had previously worked as coach and then assistant manager at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Stoke’s respective chairman and vice-chairman Peter Coates and John Coates added: “We have been following Nathan’s career for some time and when we met him were hugely impressed with his clear vision as to how he will achieve success at Stoke.”

Jones - who made 114 appearances for Southend United during his playing career between 1997 and 2000 - made an incredible start to management with Luton, winning 87 of his 170 matches in charge.

Jones led the Hatters to promotion from League Two last season and has the Kenilworth Road club riding high in League One.

Luton are currently five points behind table-topping Portsmouth.

The Hatters are due to visit Roots Hall later this month but will be doing so without Jones in charge.