Dream is over as Johnson is sacked by Robins
Hunt starts for new boss as first point and first goal is not enough to prevent the axe,
EVERYONE connected with Cheltenham Town will be eternally grateful for what Gary Johnson achieved in his first full season as manager.
He pulled off something remarkable and under considerable pressure, smashing several club records along the way as the Robins returned to the Football League as National League champions in 2015/16 one year after relegation.
For that memorable campaign alone, Johnson belongs right up there with the leading managers in the club’s history.
Jack Barthram, Aaron Downes, George Mclennan, Jack Munns, Daniel Parslow, Harry Pell, Dillon Phillips, Rob Dickie, Kyle Storer, Billy Waters and Danny Wright became instant heroes, while January signing Dan Holman fired 16 goals to ensure the title was sealed in style.
Johnson had a dream, as buoyant supporters spent most of the campaign reminding him, and every decision he made seemed unerring, resulting in 101 points and an open top bus tour around the town centre.
But Cheltenham have spent 18 of the last 19 seasons in the Football League and it is fair to judge Johnson’s performance at that level, and there have not been enough signs of progress over the past two years.
Some of the title winners struggled to make the step up to League Two, but others seemed to be written off before the season had even kicked off.
There was an early League Cup victory over Charlton, earning a trip to Newcastle United in the second round, but it was a struggle and he was forced to overhaul his squad in January.
Returning goalkeeper Scott Brown, on loan from Wycombe, and new signings Will Boyle and Carl Winchester helped Cheltenham stave off the drop, while Waters shone in attack and earned a summer move to Northampton.
Survival was achieved on the penultimate day with a nervy home win over Hartlepool, Wright scoring the only goal of the game, while Johnson was overcoming a major health scare which caused him to miss the final 11 games.
He underwent triple heart bypass surgery, performed by the father of then Bristol City and now Fulham leftback Joe Bryan.
Johnson was well enough to return to watch a 3-1 home win over Morecambe from the directors’ box, but he was then struck down by Guillain-barre syndrome.
The rare disorder sees the immune system attack the nervous system and Johnson temporarily lost the use of his legs, with son Lee later admitting in to the Daily Mail: “He was gone. We thought he had 36 hours.”
Johnson battled back and returned to work in the summer of 2017, being given a new two year contract.
Among the arrivals were Nigel Atangana, Jordon Forster, Jamie Grimes, Jerell Sellars and an unknown striker from Greenwich Borough by the name of Mohamed Eisa.
Recruitment seemed only half done when the campaign kicked off, but a move to Blackpool for Pell fell through and a thrilling 4-3 League Cup win at Oxford lifted the mood.
Eisa netted four in his first three appearances, a sign of things to come for the striker.
Cheltenham only managed four points from the opening seven matches and it was not until Scott Flinders took over from Jon Flatt in goal and Bristol City loanees Taylor Moore and Joe Morrell were introduced that Cheltenham looked competitive.
There was an improvement, with a rare away success at Chesterfield thanks to Eisa’s fine brace, while Swindon were beaten at Whaddon Road thanks to Wright’s 90th minute strike.
But Cheltenham fell away badly again and after picking up enough points to guarantee safety in early April, they lost six of their last seven.
The run included a lacklustre derby defeat by Forest Green Rovers and a 6-1 thumping at the hands of Coventry City, their heaviest home setback since 1991/92.
Johnson had a year left on his contract and the board could, and perhaps should, have acted in the summer.
Budget wise, finishing 17th and only a point better off than the previous year, was not satisfactory and sections of fans ran out of patience, particularly due to the manner of the performance against Forest Green.
Johnson reacted poorly to the criticism and at times seemed to take out his spite on the entire fan base, rather than focusing on winning matches to silence the doubters.
But he was backed by outgoing chairman Paul Baker and given his budget to rebuild extensively once again.
He quickly brought in some experienced names, including Johnny Mullins, Chris Hussey and Ben Tozer and a degree of optimism returned.
However, Carl Winchester’s departure to Forest Green was a bitter blow and Pell, an infectious character at the club for three years, was sold to Colchester United for £100,000.
Eisa was always likely to be offered opportunities to play higher after finishing his first season of full-time football with 25 goals.
After bids from Peterborough United, Portsmouth and Sunderland were rejected, Eisa left to join Bristol City in a deal which could rise to £1.5 million.
Johnson knew he was going to lose his star striker, but he was unable to find a suitable replacement who had scored goals in the Football League and a bid of £175,000 for AFC Fylde front man Danny Rowe was rejected.
Pre-season performances were underwhelming and the deadline for permanent transfers passed with 14 new players brought since the end of last term, but a glaring lack of firepower.
Johnson should be praised for giving Eisa his chance and for leaving the club is on a secure financial footing.
But his inability to sign an adequate replacement caused frustration, both for the board and for the supporters, who had seen three of the top players depart.
To make matters worse, Cheltenham failed to find the net in their first three League Two matches of the 2018/19 season, losing each 1-0.
Disappointing results (five wins from 27) played a part in Tuesday night’s decision to part company with the 62-year-old of course.
But it is far too simplistic to claim Johnson has been discarded for only taking a point from the opening four matches.
The club’s board do not have unrealistic expectations, but he was unable to convince them he could take the team forward, working with an budget now thought to be edging into the top half of the League Two rankings.
Tactically, Cheltenham have been found wanting this term and it does not appear he is able to draw the best out of the players he now has at his disposal.
He failed to sign a proven goalscorer despite having more funds available to him than any other previous manager in the club’s history.
Sending Ben Tozer on up front at half-time against Carlisle United last Saturday, with Liam Mcalinden, like most of the squad recently signed on a two year deal, sitting on the bench, was a head-shaking moment.
Perhaps crucially, there was a growing likelihood that the club would soon be in the same position as they were when Johnson was called in to try and save them in 2015, their Football League status hanging by a thread.
Johnson wanted 10 games to show what this newly assembled team could do, but the board had seen enough after the 1-1 draw against Mark Yates’ Macclesfield Town, even after Manny Duku ended the goal drought in the 86th minute. It was a horrible decision because of what Johnson achieved early in his reign, but 26 wins from 103 Football League games at the helm tells its own story, even if the first seven were not with a team he built.
Russell Milton is now back in charge, something he has done on a temporary basis twice before.
This team needs help, there is no doubt about that, but there is talent and ability waiting to be nurtured and encouraged.
The club have rushed into decisions before, with disastrous results, and they should now be planning a thorough and careful recruitment process, with the best most suitable applicant given the job of leading the club forward.
It is a major early test for new chairman Andy Wilcox and the deadline for loan signings on August 31 should not lead to another hasty appointment.
There is plenty to work with and there will be money in the bank for Johnson’s successor in January.
Until then, the focus should be on getting the best out of the current group, not making another raft of unpredictable temporary additions.
Chris Hussey’s Cheltenham career is underway and judging by his second half contribution at Moss Rose, he will make a huge difference.
Sean Long will challenge for the right-back berth soon and Duku offers some presence in attack after making a speedy recovery from his dislocated shoulder.
Life after Johnson begins for Cheltenham at one of his former clubs Cambridge on Saturday before a trip to Brentford in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.