Barnsley: Lure of Oakwell irresistible for Johnson

The 33-year-old has signed a contract at Barnsley until June 30, 2018 and will be joined at the club by his number two at Boundary Park, former Leeds United winger Tommy Wright.

Johnson, the youngest manager in the Football League at 31 when he became boss at Oldham in March 2013, says it was a difficult decision to leave the Latics, but he is confident he has made the right move.

Barnsley agreed an undisclosed compensation fee with Oldham for the services of Johnson.

Johnson, the ninth manager/head coach in ten years at Oakwell, said: “I am excited; it’s a fantastic opportunity at a really big club in the division and with a rich history.

“I am excited about I feel we can achieve together as club.

“Ii want to take the club as high as it can possibly go. It’s a step for me and they are a fantastic size from where I have been at Oldham with bigger crowds and a bigger playing budget and history consistently in a Championship for a long time.

“That’s really the minimum of where we should be.”

On the tough decision to leave Oldham, just outside of the play-off zone, Johnson added: “I have to be honest, it’s not been easy. I had two fantastic years at Oldham and I was very very found of everybody - from fans to board to players.

“When you put everything into any work and the effort it took to progress that club like we did, of course, you have emotions.

“But the lure was too big and I am excited because of the owners’ passion and ideals for the club and I bought into that.”