start as Sheffield Wednesday manager to eighteen matches. Jones' first defeat eventually came on 1 September 2012 after eighteen games unbeaten, a 2–1 loss away to Crystal Palace. Jones returned to his former side Cardiff for the first time as Sheffield Wednesday manager on 2 December 2012, losing 1–0. In February 2013, Jones was fined £2,000 and given a one-match touchline ban by the FA for misconduct after a fracas on the touchline with Brighton & Hove Albion coach Charlie Oatway during Wednesday's 3–1 victory over Brighton. Jones later said that he disagreed with his fine and described Oatway as a "nobody". Jones was dismissed on 1 December 2013, with the club second from bottom in the Championship, having won only one league match all season. Hartlepool United On 18 January 2017, Jones returned to football management when he joined Hartlepool United of League Two. Jones joined with the North-East club 19th in the table and four points clear of the relegation zone. Jones lost his first game as Pools manager 3–1 to bottom of the table side Newport County. Hartlepool's form deteriorated further, winning only 13 points from a potential 51, and left the club by mutual consent on 24 April 2017. During Jones' last match in charge of Hartlepool, club president Jeff Stelling urged him to quit, in an impassioned speech on Soccer Saturday following a home defeat to Barnet which had placed Hartlepool in the bottom two. Notified of this public criticism afterwards, Jones told reporters that Stelling showed a "lack of respect" and accused him of being "hypocritical", having been in his office when Hartlepool had gone five games without a loss. Upon Jones' departure, Hartlepool striker Billy Paynter criticised the manager's tactics. Despite Hartlepool winning their final game of the season against Doncaster Rovers, a late goal from Newport consigned Pools to relegation from the Football League for the first time after joining in 1921. Post-Hartlepool In April 2018, Jones applied for the role of head coach of the Malaysian national team but was unsuccessful. Jones began working as a consultant at Bury in July 2019. His first task with the club was helping them to appoint Paul Wilkinson as manager. Jones left Bury following the club's expulsion from the Football League in August 2019. Acquittal of child abuse In June 1999 Jones was formally questioned by police over alleged sexual abuse at St George's