Barnsley to remain on even keel after Johnson exit

Johnson was confirmed as the new head coach at Ashton Gate on Saturday afternoon after signing a three-and-a-half year deal after the Robins hierarchy had agreed a compensation package with their Barnsley counterparts.

That development was the culmination of a dramatic chain of events that began shortly after the Reds’ memorable Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern section final second leg penalty shoot-out win at Fleetwood Town, which booked the club a Wembley berth for the first time since April, 2008.

In the immediate aftermath of the Reds’ shoot-out success at Highbury Stadium, Championship strugglers City contacted Barnsley for permission to speak with Johnson, a former player at the club.

After speaking at length with Johnson, the Reds allowed him to talk to the West Country outfit on Friday, with the 34-year-old sealing his move to his old club on Saturday morning, when contract details were finalised.

While Reds officials remain disappointed at Johnson’s decision to leave Oakwell, they are keen to move on and believe that the club can look forward to a vibrant future, having won seven League One games in a row to move to within five points of the final play-off place, while also reaching a Wembley final.

The club’s latest victory came on Sunday when they ended a whirlwind few days with a 3-0 home win over Bury, with senior development coach Paul Heckingbottom and assistant head coach Tommy Wright taking charge of the side.

Despite the club already receiving a number of strong applications following Johnson’s exit, time will be afforded until they decide upon the next step with Heckingbottom and Wright continuing to oversee first-team matters.

Oakwell chief executive Mansford told The Yorkshire Post: “We have got plenty of confidence in Paul and Tommy in particular.

“At the moment, we have just won seven (league games) on the bounce and have just got through to Wembley and are five points off the play-offs.

“Looking at us now, we have got young (Ashley) Fletcher off the bench along with (Josh) Scowen and (Shaun) Tuton and others to put pressure on the starting XI.

“The current staff and playing group have the confidence to know there’s no need to seek to disturb that at the moment.

“We are just so supportive of Paul and Tommy and we are not in any rush to seek to engage with any candidates.”

On the circumstances regarding the exit of Johnson, who left 19 days before his first anniversary in charge after arriving from Oldham Athletic on February 25, 2015, Mansford added: “It was a remarkable seven days from the alleged bid for Sam (Winnall) into the pressure of everybody wanting to get to Wembley and the huge nature of the game and financial importance of that.

“Then, I had to speak to Lee and tell him that Bristol have asked permission to speak to him. At that point, I appreciated the disappointment of our fans and it was a real emotional wrestle for him – with the euphoria of getting to Wembley and probably a bit of sledgehammer of Bristol asking to speak to him.

“He knew that however well we were doing at the moment that in his heart of hearts, this was something he had always had his eye on.

“We explained to him we would like him to stay. But Bristol had asked for permission to speak to him and he said: ‘Look Ben, I’d like the opportunity of going and talking to them and listening to what the plan is.’

“That was after the game on Thursday and me and Lee were on the phone until nearly 2am on Friday morning.

“Lee then spoke with Bristol on Friday and by tea-time, it was clear that the discussions that had gone on were moving to a place where we were starting to prepare a settlement agreement between Bristol and ourselves and his own contract with Bristol was concluded towards Saturday lunchtime.”

Meanwhile, Mansford has heaped praise upon Heckingbottom and Wright and the club’s players for retaining their focus ahead of Sunday’s game with the Shakers following the euphoria of getting to Wembley in dramatic circumstances and the abrupt departure of Johnson within 48 hours.

He added: “Huge praise has to be given to Paul and Tommy and the players for keeping their focus after the euphoria of getting to Wembley and Lee going.

“I addressed the players at 10am on Saturday and they had a short and sharp training session and then played on Sunday. To finish the game so dominantly was such a huge achievement.

“The togetherness and character that the group has shown to come through the dark times and now enjoy the good times is fantastic.”