CALLUM HAS AN AXED TO GRIND
Johnson says he can be Counted on
CALLUM JOHNSON admits he will be driven on by Portsmouth’s rejection as he looks to reboot his career in the Highlands with Inverness.
The experienced former Middlebrough youth was controversially axed by incoming Pompey boss Danny Cowley just a couple of months after winning supporters’ Player of the Year.
Johnson, a versatile defender with over 200 EFL appearances under his belt, had shone through 47 matches in season 2020/21.
Portsmouth narrowly missed out on the play-offs but Kenny Jackett – the man who signed Johnson – was surprisingly sacked that March.
Cowley took the reins for the promotion run-in and then mounted a mass clear-out in the summer.
Johnson, Ross County’s ninth summer signing, said: “What happened at Portsmouth does motivate me.
“I enjoyed my time there. It is a massive club, a great club, and I played a lot of games there under Kenny Jackett, who was the guy that signed me.
“The new manager came in and wanted his own players. He more or less tore the whole squad apart.
“That is just how it was but I got on great with the fans.
“It is just football. You move on and want to do your best at your next club.
“I have no hard feelings and I enjoyed my time there – it was just one of those things that can happen when a new manager comes in.
“He wanted to get rid of everyone and get his own squad, and that’s fine.”
The 25-year-old, from the North Yorkshire town of Yarm, gained a great grounding through Middlesbrough’s ranks up to the Under-23s, and then made over 100 appearances for Accrington Stanley.
After Portsmouth, he was loaned last season to Fleetwood Town and had Charlton and other League One clubs on his trail this summer.
Staggies boss Malky Mackay won the race, with Johnson excited by the chance to try “something different” in Scotland and was won over by his new gaffer’s strong desire to get him.
Mackay had first made a failed tilt for the right-back – who can play centre-back – a year before.
Johnson said: “I spoke to the manager a few times and I know the CV he has had down in England – he has been there and done it. He’s had real good jobs and been successful.
“After speaking, I knew he was really interested in signing me and I looked at how successful they were in reaching the top six.
“It felt like a good time in my career to come here, knowing how ambitious the club is.
“I’m impressed by some of the signings they have made from England.
“They have brought players in from League One and even some Championship and English Premier League clubs.
“The ambition of the club and the manager’s approach was really attractive to me.”
Ahead of today’s clash in Dingwall, Dunfermline boss James McPake insists they will go all out for the win.
He said: “We will have a go and see what happens in the game.
“We have got to have belief, we have got to have pride in what we are doing. Go up there and test ourselves against a Premiership side is what we wanted.
“They are a good side, Malky is a fantastic manager. He has always been great to speak to, someone who is good with the younger managers.”