WHO’LL TAKE NOTE OF LEE’S LESSON?
LEE Johnson lost eight games on the spin at Barnsley. When I was on Football Tonight, we’d all be watching the results come in and say: “He’ll be gone tomorrow.”
But the chairman stuck by him. He got that first win, reached the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final and, all of a sudden, he’s been given a job in the Championship by Bristol City.
That’s how quickly management can change. And it’s a perfect example of why trigger-happy chairman should hold their fire.
People talk about contracts but, to me, it seems all managers are basically operating on a rolling eight-game deal. Fail to win and you’re under pressure. Lose seven in a row and you’ll probably get the sack.
That’s how ridiculous things have become. There isn’t even an allowance for injuries or suspensions.
Hopefully, the way Lee bounced back has shown that sacking a guy for a bad run of form is short-sighted and dangerous. Sadly, I suspect nobody will take any notice.