Brackley Town appoint former two former Premier League players as their new manager and assistant manager after Kevin Wilkin’s departure.
The club announced the shock departure of long-serving manager Kevin Wilkin as Roger Johnson is confirmed as his replacement.
Wilkin leaves after seven years in charge at St James Park as the club describe it as a “very tough decision” to make a change.
He won the FA Trophy while in charge of the Saints and secured regular playoff finishes since arriving in 2015, as well as overseeing money-spinning FA Cup runs.
Johnson, with Stephen Ward joining as his assistant manager, played for Birmingham City, Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham and Charlton.
He was with Bromley from 2017 and said he can’t wait for the new challenge and takes charge on Saturday against AFC Fylde.
Brackley currently sit 8th in the National League North table and on Tuesday night won 1-0 at AFC Telford United.
NEW MANAGER: Brackley Town is delighted to announce that Roger Johnson has been appointed as the club’s new first-team manager and Stephen Ward joins as assistant manager
Read more here.
— Brackley Town FC (@BrackleyTownFC) September 29, 2022
BRACKLEY ON APPOINTMENT
Brackley Town is delighted to announce that Roger Johnson has been appointed as the club’s new first-team manager and Stephen Ward joins as assistant manager.
Roger who had an impressive 20-year career as a professional footballer, is 39 years old and made over 600 senior appearances as a player. He started his career at Wycombe Wanderers, before joining Cardiff City in 2006, he then represented Birmingham City, Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham and Charlton before joining National League side Bromley in 2017.
He moved into coaching with Bromley in 2020, starting first as their u23s manager and then he joined the first team coaching staff in April 2021.
Stephen Ward is 37 years old and also had an impressive career as a player, making over 500 senior appearances. He started his senior career with Bohemians in his native Ireland, before moving to Wolves in 2017, he then signed for Burnley in the Premier League, before representing Stoke City, Ipswich Town and Walsall, where he retired this Summer. Ward also represented his country over 50 times, playing for the Republic of Ireland in the Euro 2012 and 2016 finals.
Both join the Saints with immediate effect and will be in charge for our clash with AFC Fylde on the 8th of October.
Welcome to St James Park, Roger and Stephen!
BRACKLEY ON SACKING
Brackley Town can confirm the departure of Kevin Wilkin as first team manager. Kevin leaves St James Park after 7 years.
In a statement club chairman Francis Oliver said, “We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Kevin and his staff for their service and achievements at the club since joining in September 2015. During this time Kevin has been a credit both on the pitch and off the pitch, respected by players, staff, supporters and more widely in the game.
“This has been a very tough decision to make because of the success that Kevin has had at the club. We finished second in the division last season, have had successive play-off finishes, great cup runs and of course a FA Trophy win at Wembley. Kevin has also embodied the values of the club as somebody of integrity and determination.
Kevin leaves with our sincerest of thanks for his commitment and dedication as manager and our very best wishes for the future. His tenure will be remembered as the most successful period in the club’s history.
Club Statement – Brackley Town can confirm the departure of Kevin Wilkin as first team manager.
Read more here.
— Brackley Town FC (@BrackleyTownFC) September 29, 2022
JOHNSON’S CAREER:
Senior career
2000–2006 – Wycombe Wanderers – 157 games (19 goals)
2006–2009 – Cardiff City – 119 games (12 goals)
2009–2011 – Birmingham City – 76 games (2 goals)
2011–2015 Wolverhampton Wanderers – 69 games (2 goals)
2013–2014 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) – 17 games (0 goals)
2014 → West Ham United (loan) – 4 games (0 goals)
2015 – Charlton Athletic – 14 games (0 goals)
2015 – Pune City – 11 games (0 goals)
2016–2017 – Charlton Athletic – 6 games (0 goals)
2017–2019 – Bromley – 52 games (2 goals)
Total – 525 games (37 goals)
WARD’S CAREER:
Senior career
2003–2007 – Bohemians – 74 games (11 goals)
2007–2014 – Wolverhampton Wanderers – 222 games (9 goals)
2013–2014 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) – 44 games (4 goals)
2014–2019 – Burnley – 101 games (3 goals)
2019–2020 – Stoke City – 15 games (0 goals)
2020–2021 – Ipswich Town – 30 games (0 goals)
2021–2022 – Walsall – 27 games (0 goals)
Total – 513 games (27 goals)
National team
2003–2004 – Republic of Ireland U19 – 5 games (3 goals)
2005–2008 – Republic of Ireland U21 – 13 games (4 goals)
2007 – Republic of Ireland B
2011–2018 – Republic of Ireland – 50 games (3 goals)
Fans gave their reaction as Brackley Town appoint two former Premier League players as new manager and assistant…
@willyepp: Good luck to them!
@bobbynoakess: I’m not against it. Two young coaches who want success. Played at the very highest standard of English football. Have plenty of connections in the game. There was definitely worse options out there…
@jamesdodd1993: He was the U23s manager at Bromley for a short stint and got them playing some nice football. Expect the old school/hair dryer treatment more than the modern style of coaching though…
@TomShell17: Roger Johnson’s red and white army! I hope he gets us playing attractive football…
@SteveTynan75: Bold and very risky. Let’s hope it works out.
@ahyden95: Fucking hell 😂😂
@JamesWilesNTFC: He’s already helped the club win a trophy so big expectations to meet…
@moglaven: Intriguing appointment. Both played at a high level so will have some good ideas for attractive football. The transfer/loans coming in will be interesting, surely have good connections still
@owenshepherd1: Clearly a plan here. Has potential to be a decent appointment. Wealth of high level playing experience (as does Ward). Could have gone for someone who’s done the rounds in this league (Cox…) but gone for young manager who’ll want to make an impression
@AndrewSlaughte1: Get rid of a proven manager at NLN level for a bloke that’s managed an under 23 team! Cuckoo 🤣
@RMcCarthy98: Interesting appointment 😂
@whitehousead: What a waste of space 😂😂 Profits in the club bar will do well tho 👍🏻
@hunterharrier: You must have had them lined up before you got rid of wilkin, and after all he did for you
@KarlJLatham: It will be interesting to see how this goes!
@sibosibo_: Most outrageous duo ever, love that
why don’t you just get behind him instead of slagging him for something that’s out of his control 😴
— luca🤘🏼 (@lufcluca) September 29, 2022
That’s the one.
— #BucksWriter 🦌 (@BucksWriter) September 29, 2022
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