Cardiff City rejected a bid of £6m from the Potters for City's 21 year old Welsh international on transfer deadline day.
After the sales of Aaron Ramsey and Glenn Loovens City did not need to cash in on Ledley. While there was disappointment in the lack of arrivals at Ninian Park there was relief that the club has shown some ambition by holding onto local boy Joe.
"Tony Pulis is a close friend, but I could easily have fallen out with him that day," Jones told the South Wales Echo. "I had to ask him to back off.
"He can achieve better than that - and my hope is that he will step into the Premiership with Cardiff City.
"We are trying to build something at Cardiff City and Joe is a big part of that. Of course he wants to play in the Premiership.
"Every player wants to do that and Joe's chance will come. I would like to think the decision to stay is the best one for Joe Ledley."
Stoke boss Pulis said: The truth is that Cardiff did not want to sell him, so fair play to them.
"We tried to put a bit of pressure on them with a fee, but they wouldn't budge, which is a shame because we think he's a good player.
"Some you win, some you lose."