McAllister wants to stay on at City

I love the club, says assistant head coach ahead of crucial clash with Potters

JAMIE McAllister says he “would love” to stay on the coaching staff at Bristol City when the successor to former head coach Lee Johnson is eventually appointed.

Ahead of this evening’s Sky Bet Championship clash against Stoke at Ashton Gate, the Robins’ assistant head coach and former left-back of 186 League appearances across a sixyear spell from 2006-2012 insisted he is fully committed to the club.

McAllister said: “I love the club, have a great rapport with the fans, and over the last four years I’ve really enjoyed my role.

“I love working with the players every single day and, as I say, it’s something that I would love to do, to stay on. But I can’t control that and it’s up to the club and what they do.

“But, for me, nothing has changed. I’ll do my job 100 percent day in and day out – and support Dean (Holden, caretaker boss) and the rest of the staff. They are doing an amazing job at the moment.

On former boss and long-time friend Johnson, there were some warm words.

He added: “I was disappointed and saddened that Lee lost his job. A good friend of mine. He’s done an excellent job here. He poured his heart and soul into the club and I’m sure he’ll get another job elsewhere.

“He’s a great young manager and he’s done excellently over the last ten years that he’s been a player and manager or head coach here.”

Benik Afobe is well again after the weekend, and was back in training this week, but cannot play tonight as he is on loan from the Potters.

Pedro Pereira is continuing his rehabilitation, while Kasey Palmer is close to a return after his thigh was drained of fluid, and Jamie Paterson is being closely monitored.

“We’ll see how he is before the game,” added McAllister.

City are three points off the final play-off position with three matches of the season to play.