Brackley sack ex-Wycombe, Cardiff, Birmingham, Wolves, Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday player

Brackley Town sack ex-Wycombe, Cardiff, Birmingham, Wolves, Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday player Roger Johnson as their manager.

The Northamptonshire based club part company with the former footballer by mutual agreement after a run of just one win in 11 league games.

They are currently in the National League North playoff places with captain Gareth Dean taking over until the end of the season.

Johnson’s reign, which began when he took over from Wilkin at the end of September, started with an incredible 17-match unbeaten run, however as mentioned, his side’s form has quickly deteriorated recently and they will want to make sure they don’t miss out on potential promotion this season after a number of campaigns fighting at the top end with four games remaining of the regular campaign.

Club Statement: Saturday 8th April

Roger Johnson leaves Brackley Town Football Club by mutual consent.#WeAreBrackley

— Brackley Town FC (@BrackleyTownFC) April 8, 2023

CLUB STATEMENT:

In a statement issued today, the board of Brackley Town Football Club has announced that Roger Johnson has been released by mutual agreement from first-team duties with immediate effect.

The club wishes to place on record its appreciation for the hard work that Roger and his management team of Stephen Ward and Kevin Foley have put in this season.

Club captain Gareth Dean will take over first-team management responsibilities until the end of the season.

Further details will be announced in due course.

Interviewer: Clearly not the result you were looking for this afternoon.

RJ: No, definitely not. And I had every belief today, I was really positive. The lads were positive for 60 minutes, certainly. First half, I felt there was one team in it and we got ourselves in front and, yeah, decision making sometimes depending. And then all of a sudden, the lads kind of dropped in confidence, and I tried to get it across to him that it’s still one one. We were still very much in the game and two set plays where’d you go with it. Another free kick and I’m gutted. But I’m positive in respect of the results have gone for us. We’re still fourth. There’s three teams currently better than us in the league and over 41 games we fought in the league, so have to stay positive. Look, I’m not stupid. Is that a result I wanted for the fans and the players and the club? Absolutely not. Losing to a side bottom of the league at home is unacceptable. But I have to draw from the positives. Certainly the first half and bit of the second. But then as soon as you shoot yourself in the foot it’s difficult to raise everyone’s morale then because some for me hid. And then you got half the team wanting to get on it and up for it. So, yeah, I’ll take a lot of the blame, but the players have to do a little bit of soul searching.

Interviewer: And a difficult afternoon with injuries, losing a player in the warmup and then Jimmy going off quite early.

RJ: Yeah, it was a game for Levi today. He’s been waiting for his chance and I was gutted for him. He was gutted, but good honesty from the lad, to be honest. He didn’t want to go out there 70% and knew it wasn’t right. So I appreciate that on his part and his honesty. And Jimmy, yeah, I was excited for him to play in that ten role today and cause a bit of havoc, try and create something for us, get a goal for us. So that was another disappointment, one taking him off so early.

Interviewer: And it was a strange game in so many ways with all those penalty kicks.

RJ: Yeah. I don’t think the first one was for them, so justice was served, but the second one is I won’t go too deep into it, but it’s a mistake and something that a few of our lads do. We wait, thinking, you’ve got all the time in the world and you haven’t. You’re going to get shut down, people are going to be on at you and trying to get possession off you. So, yeah, look, a mistake, a soft free kick again, we need to stop. We gave so many fouls away today, unnecessary fouls, and that’s the strength of theirs. They want to swing it in the box and try and get a goal from a set play. As disappointed as I am. We have to move on.We have to move on Monday. There’s another game around the corner and we are very still much in it. And I will fight until I’m told otherwise to get us in the playoffs. And then once we’re over the line in that, we can regroup and hatch out a plan for the playoffs.

Interviewer: And you’re always looking forward, you’re always positive. Twelve points still to play for.

RJ: Yeah, that’s a massive amount of points. I think it was two out of four.W e’re in it. Like I said, the results went for us today again, but that’s going to run out at some point. We can’t keep relying on other results. We need to do what’s in front of us. And like I said, I will fight until the end, until I’m told otherwise and be positive, because there is positives. We’re fourth in the league and the sooner the lads believe in that and we just get rid of this rumble on a win changes everything. I felt it was going to come today, certainly after the first half and we found ourselves on the end of a loss, but we have a game in three days, so that’s what I’ll be focusing on.

“I got a call yesterday asking if I would take it until the end of the season and I said yes,” Dean said, as per Northampton Chronicle and Echo.

“It would be easy for me to sit here and say ‘no, I’m not interested’ or ‘I’m injured’ and focus on my own rehab. That’s not the sort of person I am.

“Is it something long-term I want to be looking at? Probably not.

“But in the short-term, it’s an opportunity for me to pick up some mates off the floor after being in a low place when it comes to confidence.

“I think I can engage with them and get a reaction out of them. They haven’t turned into bad players overnight.

“It’s a confidence thing at the moment and I need to try to get them regrouped and believing in themselves again and hopefully that will be reflected in their performances moving forward.

“I don’t know the ins and outs of the conversations that were held.

“I just received a call informing me of the news before it was released and, like I said, it’s an opportunity for me to try to help some people I care about.

“I would ideally be out there, fighting and scrapping with my team-mates but I can’t do that at the moment and it’s not looking like I will be playing football again this season with the extent of my own injury.

“I want to get my teeth into it. I want to try to have an influence on the boys and I think there will be players who will immediately give a reaction, not just to me but to themselves.

“It only takes a second to bring confidence into someone. Whatever it takes, it can be turned around very quickly.

“There’s four games to play for and hopefully some more after that. I have every belief in them and I just hope they have the belief in themselves as well.

“It’s us as a group now. We are going to lock that dressing-room door and we will get right behind each other whether you’re in the team or out of the team.

“We have to be a team that will run, work and give everything they have got. We have to fight and scrap over the next four games and see where that puts us.

“I have every faith the boys will do that and get over the line but they have to believe it and want it.

“They are downbeat at the moment but I think Monday is the perfect game.

“Hopefully we get a good number of fans supporting us and we can show a togetherness on the pitch.”

“I am sure the management team would have said to judge them over the accumulated period they were in charge,” Dean added, on Johnson and his management team of Stephen Ward and Kevin Foley also leaving.

“I don’t know what conversations took place but I do know they worked exceptionally hard during their time with us to try to give us the correct detail.

“I think it’s important that we are grateful and show it publicly that we are grateful for everything they did for us in their short time with us.”

Club captain @dean_gaz is ready to ‘pick up some mates off the floor’ after agreeing to become interim boss @BrackleyTownFC for the rest of the season following the departure of Roger Johnson
Picture; @alcock_glenn @TheRealCase @ChronandEcho @chronsport https://t.co/Dd8JhdsQLy

— Jon Dunham (@JonDunhamNT) April 9, 2023

Twitter users reacted as Brackley sack the ex-Wycombe, Cardiff, Birmingham, Wolves, Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday player as their manager…

@CSAtkinson55: Panic stations or what, although 14 points from your last 16 games is relegation form. Game next Sat v my @Official_Darlo will be a challenge for both as we have only gained 16 points in that same period! See you all there.

@fagg876: good decision.

@willyepp: Best of luck for the future to Roger and the lads! Come on @dean_gaz!!! Everyone behind you mate!!

@Theo22121812: Cheers for the good run but fair play

@stevenneil12: Trusting in @BrackleyTownFC @dean_gaz and @gwalks_3 to get the team to play-offs and promotion.

@realguysmith: Correct decision from the club. We’ll all be 100% behind @dean_gaz from now until the end of the season. Come on Gaffer!

@RichanBooth: Not really surprised, you can’t lose to 3 clubs who are in & around the relegation spots when you are going for promotion

@petersalt360: I take no pleasure in someone losing their job but I think the time was probably right? All the best Gaz 🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪👍

@brackleyboy1: Now get wes york back in team, come on gazzy boy sort it out 🤣

@owenshepherd1: Right call. In Gaz we trust. Now to make the play offs!

@Bushpig_Spotter: Roger knew what was coming, now move on!

@BicesterMike: Inevitable once the crowd turned, I wish it could have worked for him, but he made some bizarre decisions and his recruitment was just awful. All the best to him and his staff. Now, how much compensation will Telford want for Kevin?

@banhambtfc: FairPlay to Roger and his team just didn’t work out… wish him all the best for his future..

@notluca77: big decision this late into the season but gone from top two to being at risk of not making the play offs. have to get someone in asap

@GregBak59237411:Good luck in the future Roger but it was clear yesterday that something needed to change. Just a shame this didn’t happen a week ago before Kev committed to Telford next year. We’re all behind Gaz and the team, fingers crossed we can get going again for playoffs!