Sunderland owner says Johnson’s staying as boss
SUNDERLAND owner Kyril LouisDreyfus insists Lee Johnson is a “long-term appointment” and the Black Cats have no intention of sacking the former Bristol City manager despite their play-off failure.
Johnson’s side were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Lincoln City in the semi-finals, confirming a fourth straight season in League One for a team which have aspirations of returning to the Premier League.
Johnson took over in the North East in December and, after a blistering start in which he lifted them to within touching distance of the automatic promotion places and won the EFL Trophy, they fell away to finish fourth.
The 39-year-old was accosted by a group of Sunderland fans following the second leg on Saturday, and Football Insider claimed this week Sunderland were considering dismissing the former Robins boss.
The report even said his job was “hanging by a thread” with replacements having been sounded out.
But, speaking to talkSPORT, Louis-Dreyfus said: “Lee Johnson was a long-term appointment. We all knew he would stay regardless of this season. He is the right man to hopefully lead us to promotion next season.
“It’s going to be a long-term project. I don’t think a quick fix is possible
in our situation. We need to implement a long-term plan to rebuild every area of the club to hopefully then get success out of it.”
Johnson, was dismissed by City last July after four-and-a-half years at the helm at Ashton Gate, still has two years remaining on his contract at the Stadium of Light.
He faces a huge rebuilding job with seven first-team players leaving on free transfers, three loanees returning and uncertaining surrounding Aiden McGeady, Luke O’Nien, Denver Hume and topscorer Charlie Wyke.
That quartet also become free agents next month but have even been offered new deals or are in talks with the club over the prospect of being presented with fresh terms.