Chester manager hits back at critics on Twitter after shock FA Cup exit

Chester manager Anthony Johnson hits back at critics on Twitter after witnessing his side’s shock FA Cup exit earlier in midweek.

The National League North outfit suffered a 4-0 defeat at home to Marske United, and it subsequently prompted speculation about the futures of the duo in charge, Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley.

Johnson has responded not just on social media but had an interview with the Chronicle and CheshireLive in which he addresses the game, his and Morley’s record, his respect for the board and his anger at some criticism.

Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley are determined to get the club back in the National League and after three years at the Deva Stadium, they are getting closer, finishing ninth, sixth and then third last season.

Johnson says the final decision will be with his board of directors but Tuesday’s FA Cup defeat at home to Marske United hasn’t changed their commitment to the club.

He said: “Myself and Bernard have put our lives and souls into this football club. We have put our lives on hold. People will think that’s the norm. It’s not.

“What we have done at this football club goes far beyond what normal managers do at football clubs. We have done more at this football club than I have done at the two previous, bearing in mind they were both local clubs to me (Ramsbottom and Salford).

“And, to the detriment of my family life. That is what is required at Chester Football Club. That is what is required at a fan-owned football club. That is what you need to do to make it work.

“My feelings towards this football club are as passionate as every supporter that will read this piece.

“Why? Because when we took this job we made the decision to invest our whole lives into it. But ultimately it comes down to results.”

Chester currently sit 14th in the standings with eight points from their seven league games, though they looked to have turned a corner when they hammered Blyth 5-1 at home in their last league game.

But after picking up a 0-0 on Saturday at a Marske side two divisions below them, they were well beaten in the replay, going 2-0 down then conceding two more late on after throwing men forward against a side reduced to ten men after 70 minutes.

Johnson added: “It comes down to perception and performance and losing 4-0 at home to a team from a league below.

“Forget the last two goals. People won’t like it but forget the last two goals. We threw a centre back up top. It’s a cup game. In a league game we wouldn’t have done it. But the fact is at 2-0 down with 20 minutes to go against 10 men we didn’t do enough to get back in the game.

“They were better than us, they defended better than us, they counter-attacked better than us. They had a better game plan than us.

“But the perception of the performance and the result is ‘another one’ on the back of (previous FA Cup and Trophy defeats) Dunston, Marine, Royston and also the three previous defeats in the league this season.

“So, it is a perception of how things look.

“The board have to make a decision whether what myself and Bern have put in has been to what they have wanted and to their expectations.

“But bear in mind that when we took the job, expectations were to not get relegated in Season One. That didn’t happen and we have progressed season upon season. We are now seven league games into a season and out of a cup.

“That is why I am saying it is up to the board. A season lasts 42 league games, with cup games you can be talking upward of 50.

“Myself and Bernard aren’t being questioned about our whole tenure. We are being questioned about isolated games.

“If that is deemed a decision worthy of losing our jobs then that is not for me and Bern to comment on, that is up to the board to make that decision.”

“The reason I call it a big decision is because we have a good relationship with the board and that is why we have been successful as a fan-owned club, because of the relationship between us all.

“The board and supporters are friends, they all know each other, they work together, they are elected fans on to the board. They are the hardest working people you would ever come across.

“Unfortunately, emotion has to come out of it and they have a decision based on business. If they think the business has been affected because of the employment of me and Bernard then they are going to have to make a big decision.

“I am not daft. I have been in the game long enough to understand the noise being made last night will make the board question whether it is right or wrong to keep us in a job.

“There are too many variables in ‘back or sack’. What does it mean in terms of backing us?

“So, they have to make a big decision. Whatever way that decision goes, I will have nothing but respect for every single one of them. They are all absolutely brilliant people on that board. There is no fall out with any of them.

“It is a fan-owned football club and the noise, and the fans coming through the gate, will dictate the decision made by the board. It is as simple as that.

“I have never doubted myself, ever. If I ever did, I wouldn’t manage. I wouldn’t go and get another (football management) job, I would walk away from it. I am 39 years old, Bernard is 37 and we have managed nearly 600 games.

“I am sure some people think we have just rocked up this season and are trying to find our way through it.

“I have a family at home that miss out on me and my time. So, I would walk away from it.

“So, if I didn’t think I could turn it around, I wouldn’t be in the game, let alone at Chester FC.

“I am not that type of person, I have integrity.

“At this level of football, with Salford and Chester, our win percentage is over 50 per cent. No one else matches that. We are the longest-serving managers at this level, along with Kevin Wilkin at Brackley.

“We are not a flash in the pan. We have had one bad cup result and we have had other isolated games.

“I am not delusional and think we shouldn’t be questioned. We should. Because of last night and previous results this season, the board have to have a chat about what that looks going forward.”

In his interview after the Marske defeat, he hoped to stay until the end of his contract at the end of the season – but was shocked that has been interpreted on social media as meaning he won’t resign just so he can get a pay off.

He said: “Any man or woman or child that has met me at Chester FC will never question my integrity.

“For anyone to question mine and my best mate’s integrity about whether we are sitting about to get a pay off is the lowest opinion you could have on a football manager.

“The reason I won’t walk away from this football club is because I have put too much into it it, far too much into it. Time, my life, players.

“I was asked the question and said, ‘to the end of my contract.’ But what else can I say? I couldn’t say I would be there until after my contract. It doesn’t make sense.

“We are approachable, come and speak to us about it. But don’t go on social media and talk nonsense about what they think we are as people. You can think we are poor managers. That is opinion. You can say the performance was diabolical, that’s a fact.

“But don’t question our motives as men.

“We have made in three-and-a-half years, £150,000 in unbudgeted money from player sales and cup runs. Yet, day after day, week after week, we have thrown in our face what everybody else does, and we don’t do enough.

“It is coming away from opinion on the game and getting personal. But don’t get personal, talk with intelligence. If you want to discuss the game, I will take it all, absolutely all of it.

“But don’t get personal about me and my mate, because everything we have given to this club is in the best interests of the club.

“We were offered contracts by the club two years ago that we signed on the same money. I don’t know any manager that has ever signed a new contract, who has been doing well, that has signed on the same money.

“Generally it is for a pay rise. We didn’t do that. I did it because I didn’t want to leave the club. I wanted to stay here and finish what we started.

“So, for my motives to be questioned is a disgrace.

“Me and Bernard have waived our right to a play-off bonus to make sure our players can have a win bonus. And were are being questioned that we don’t care about this football club and have lost our focus?

“I took my children to school and my daughter said to me, ‘You’re not doing a good job at Chester are you?’

“It made me laugh. She thinks that because of my reaction, because I bring it home. I can’t hide it.

“That is why we have done well in the game because, when we do something, we put our whole heart and soul into it.”

Please don’t question our integrity. After everything we’ve done for this club and everything we’ve given to it over the last 3 and a half years, please don’t question our motives!

Have an opinion on the job we’ve done but don’t question us as men, we’ve given a lot to the club.

— Anthony Johnson (@amjonno) October 6, 2021

Fans reacted as the Chester manager hits back at critics on Twitter after the shock FA Cup exit…

@BrettAgnew9: To many are quick to jump on the backs and put you down as a manager not realising the lengths you go to,the hours you put in,the personal things you miss behind the scenes. Be proud of what yous have done it’s a hard job wether your winning or losing still the same time spent

@Paskins_tache: You’re doing a great job, keep at it.

@thelifeofmikey0: Just listened to the interview as a neutral and it doesn’t sound to me like you want the sack at all just standing up as a man and taking responsibility for some poor performances, can’t always get things right can only do your best each day to get back into the good habits!

@IanBartram1: As a Darlo fan I think we dodged a bullet as no shame in losing to you but I think Marske are a good side and we could easily have had that happen to us .They also thrashed a good Shields side who will be in NLN next year

@mickcatlin1: Managers are human & if you’ve done the job you can appreciate the pain. If you haven’t done the job you will never appreciate the pain!

@poolsfan41: I listened to the Marske point of view on the radio, they admitted they were really lucky, and they said they played a really good team. And I got the impression they thought 4-0 was a flattering scoreline. All teams get bad result they don’t deserve.onwards to the next game.

@FussballJames: Love you Jonno. It’s disappointing that some fans seem to take the job you and Bern have done for granted, but I for one am proud to have two managers who are truly passionate about the club and never anything but honest with the fans. The win over Blyth was one of the best Chester performances I’ve seen in years, just because we lost last night doesn’t mean we’re incapable of performing like that again. Of course some things need fixing but I’ve still got full faith in the two of you to turn it around

@SeanMoon95: Best people for the Job STILL 👍

@LiamMor52485150: Youve improved us season on season since being here. First season was to stay up, we just missed out on plays offs. We improve and improved more. Just because we have started this season poor its still early on in the season. Tough times dont last, tough people do!!!

@shauneport: I think its about time you both did the what best for the club and go. Last night was a shambles and I cannot see where improvement will come from. The team look lost and a relegation fight is on the cards.

@Grantshenton4: Honesty and integrity is something both you and @BernMorley84 have in abundance Gaff! look at the loyalty of plays past and present! Some people love to just throw empty comments around with no actual substance!

@PaulBayliss9: People never stop and think of all the work that goes on behind the scenes and in the background. Takes a hell of a lot of work,over time, for a club to eventually see the rewards. Sometimes people get sacked, then new guy gets success because of the foundations already in place

I just tried to be honest with how I felt at that moment. I don’t throw out platitudes that don’t make any sense after a 4-0 hammering.

What people like about you in the beginning they use against you in the end…

— Anthony Johnson (@amjonno) October 6, 2021

We haven’t lost 2 games on the bounce for over 2 years, of course we know how to fix a bad result/performance. My interview had no talk about not knowing why it happened, I was asked about the future to which I gave my answer about board decisions…

— Anthony Johnson (@amjonno) October 6, 2021

Why, because we took the blame on the performance and result?

Say what you want about the performance as I’d agree but to suggest we want paying off after what we’ve put into the club is a disgrace!

— Anthony Johnson (@amjonno) October 6, 2021