Fleetwood Town appoint ex-Oldham, Barnsley, Bristol City, Sunderland, Hibs manager Lee Johnson, who comes in to replacement Scott Brown.
The 42-year-old comes into the League One club having only been sacked by Hibernian on the 27th of August, following a slow start to the Scottish Premiership season.
Brown left at the beginning of September after five defeats from their opening six league games.
𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 👔
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Lee Johnson as the club’s new first-team Manager.#OnwardTogether
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) September 10, 2023
CLUB STATEMENT
Fleetwood Town are delighted to announce the appointment of Lee Johnson as the club’s new first-team Manager.
Johnson heads to the Fylde Coast with vast experience as a manager not only in League One but the EFL as a whole with more than 500 games under his belt in the dugout.
Starting his coaching career at Oldham Athletic, he became the youngest to ever manage in the EFL at just 31 and led them to their best finish in five years, whilst introducing his high-quality standard style of play.
Further roles at Barnsley and Bristol City would follow this, with his turning the latter into play-off contenders after steering them away from the relegation zone when he first arrived.
Town fans will be familiar with Johnson from his time at Sunderland, with multiple clashes against his side, and whilst there, he helped the Black Cats lift their first piece of silverware in 14 years by winning the EFL Trophy in the 2020/21 season – as well as the League One play-off final.
After this, he moved above the border to manage at Hibernian and managed a fifth-place finish in the Scottish Premiership in his maiden season and, after this, still boasts a near 40 per-cent win ratio across his 500 games as a manager over the last decade.
Now, the 42-year-old has made his way to Fleetwood and has a week with his side to get prepared for Town’s next outing which is against Oxford United at Highbury on Saturday 16 September.
On the news, CEO Steve Curwood said: “We are delighted to attract someone with the calibre and record of Lee Johnson to Fleetwood Town – we see this move as a real statement of intent at the club.
“During the process, we made it clear we were looking for an experienced manager who can help take what we feel is a very good squad up the table, and help to develop the club as a whole.
“We were hugely impressed by the number of impressive candidates and after a thorough interview process, Lee was the stand-out candidate.
“We’d like to welcome him to Highbury Stadium and look forward to working with him in the future.”
Further announcements about Lee’s backroom staff will be made in due course.
Welcome to the club, Lee!
Watch the new manager’s first interview in full below ⤵️#OnwardTogether pic.twitter.com/AtOBF5DrOW
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) September 10, 2023
On making the move to Fleetwood Town…
“I’m absolutely delighted to be here, I’m not long out of a job and I’ve been humbled that the club made such a big effort to get me here but, at the same time, I’ve known Fleetwood for a long time. I’ve watched the journey, which has been fantastic for the football club, and I want to be part of the new era by helping the success continue.
“I’ve had good friends who have managed here, and they all spoke well about the club, that’s not just the fanbase and the players, but the people around the place as well. I’m looking forward to getting down and dirty with the players, the people around the building, and the staff.
“I started my professional career at Yeovil, and I would say it’s kind of a similar theme around the place in terms of it being a family club, the size of the town, and have both built up through non-league and to the heights they are now. It’s 10 years they’ve been in League One and now the next step is to try and push for the Championship.”
On seeing the squad for their abilities…
“When any new manager comes in, everyone gets a fresh slate, and players are often revived and lifted based on the opportunity to impress somebody new. They will all get the opportunity to do that here, but it’s already a good club. The squad are good, I’ve watched all the games, they’ve been unlucky in a few, and short in others, but there are signs there.
“You want to make your own stamp from day one, but you also have to let the players flourish to play their natural games in the formation you want to play in and that’s the beauty and enjoyment factor of coaching. You get to see this on the grass, not just with their abilities, but also with their attitudes and ability to learn.
“There are a lot of young players at this football club, aged between 18 and 25, and I think that’s a good thing because they are impressionable, I’m used to working with players in that range, trying to develop them not only to perform for Fleetwood, but also making them the players they need to be to move on.”
On wanting to add value to the club…
“My goal and aim is to add value and part of that is of course to help the Academy and create those pathways for the players by giving my experience and advice to form the playing philosophy that goes with that so it’s easier for younger players to integrate into the first team and have a close relationship with the staff.
“I’ve done this at all my clubs and have always enjoyed that element as I’ve seen a lot of success through this, as there has been at Fleetwood over the past years. I think everybody has done a fantastic job, from what I’ve heard and seen from the outside, and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s driven that success from within.
“I’m not the guru of all things, there are experts already within this football club and it’s my leadership in terms of the footballing side and I intend to connect well with people whilst also bringing my unique qualities to the organisation and that’s what I mean by adding value.”
Here’s how fans reacted as Fleetwood appoint the ex-Oldham, Barnsley, Bristol City, Sunderland, Hibs manager…
@BhoyinRed: Thoughts and prayers with the fans of Fleetwood Town Football Club
@JohnMcI98202968: I’m so so so sorry
@thegas90: You must be desperate 😂😂
@Al_S1983: Jesus, how does this guy continue to get work? Good luck Fleetwood 😬
@joehiggins38938: Out of possession we will adopt suffocating pressing systems based on identifying triggers and hunting in packs to recover the ball high up the field within 6 seconds of its loss.
@NotoriousBAG_: Monday tomorrow, are sharks scared of Monday? No they cut about doing shark stuff.
@padgers82: Fleetwood doesn’t know what’s coming there way – the press conferences are pure David Brent 😬😬😂😂
@Michael71830696: I’m sorry to say this but enjoy league 2 next season with him in charge
@1875_muzz: Enjoy the post and pre match interviews lads…..
@LucasLaing5: 😂 how’s he got a job that quick
@nickhume1: How this guy keeps getting jobs in football is beyond me 😂
@brougher1: 😂 😂 Out the frying pan and all that. Johnson has the best agent in the managerial game.
@kyogosleftfoot: Oh dear god. David Brent of management 😂😂
@JayVtid: My thoughts are with Fleetwood fans at this time.
@ThisIsJakeJ: In all fairness, I think this is a good appointment for Fleetwood
@gaznanna: I never understand how terrible managers get through the job interviews for a new position so soon. “So… tell me about your previous job…?”
@thecelticspaces: I can’t help myself but like him, he’s so hopeless and comes out with the most inane shite. Genuinely my favourite manager at the moment
@Samtgibson1: Feel sorry for your lot but we’re getting more lee Johnson quotes so every cloud I guess
@MiserableMackem: I can’t NOT WAIT for this bloke to bring back his EFL interviews. Your usual reminder that thousands of #SAFC fans did NOT want this man sacked. A truly wild and mental take.
@scottmillar1: Hoping that’s saved Hibs several hundred thousands of pounds in gardening leave payments 🙏
@Eamon_K_: Lump on this mob getting relegated
@PDiddzyyy: Can’t wait till he comes out and said they’ve won the corners. Despite losing 6-0 to Stevenage
@MichaelBowers15: Be keeping an eye out for their results now 😂
— GGTH (@GGTH1875) September 10, 2023
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