Oldham appoint Lee Johnson as a manager: A bright future beckons?

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March 18, 2013 by backofthenetjl

Earlier today, Oldham Athletic appointed Lee Johnson as manager; a 31-year-old who has no experience in football management. But despite the risk of Johnson being so young, it could prove to be a bold appointment, with Johnson already making his ideas and plans very clear.

Johnson is by no means a stranger to the game, having been a youth team player at Arsenal, he also played for Brighton, Hearts, Kilmarnock, Bristol City and Yeovil Town; where he played under his father Gary, who is still manager of the Glovers. He has obviously learnt quite a lot from his Dad over the years, saying “The beauty of my dad being a manager is that I have known from the age of 19 that I have wanted to do that. And for over 10 years it has been something I have been working hard to achieve.”

The 31-year-old becomes the youngest manager in the football league and even though he lacks experience in football management, he is certainly very knowledgable and after hearing him on a local radio station, I am very excited about him being the new manager. I was impressed with the way in which he talked about football so clearly and the board at Oldham clearly had that same impression, with Johnson fighting of 120 applicants to land the role of managing a club which is trapped in a relegation dogfight.

Chairman Simon Corney spoke of Johnson’s appointment, saying “Lee was the overwhelming choice of the whole board and I am sure we are going to have some exciting times.Some people obviously view it as a slightly risky appointment and I understand that. We are absolutely sure Lee is the right guy.” It is evident that the board have are backing Johnson 100%.

When interviewed on the Official Latics website, Johnson made it apparent that he had a vision and a philosophy; he aims to provide football which will entertain and delight fans; something which the Boundary Park faithful want desperately. Johnson said “I have watched a number of recent games and there have been things I have not liked, but it us up to me to change them as well as phasing in my philosophies which is to play entertaining and attacking football at a high tempo.”

Johnson took charge of training today and will be in the dug-out for tomorrow’s fixture with Hartlepool and he is confident he will be able to guide Latics away to safety, even with the difficult task ahead. “The good thing is that there are 10 league games left and still have a chance of staying up We have some very good players here.” He Said.

It is an incredibly risky appointment, as there were many experienced managers out there that Oldham could have opted for, but it is a risk that had to be taken. Johnson has some brilliant ideas and the future looks bright; if they can avoid relegation this time round, the only way is up. He will do his very best but the fans need to back him if this appointment is to have any success at all. At first it seemed an obscure appointment at first, but after listening to Lee Johnson on the radio and the way he spoke about his football, I think there could be exciting times ahead for Oldham Athletic, but survival in League One is vital.