FINN IS STILL LEARNING IN LOCKDOWN

JONATAN JOHANSSON didn’t require a controversial ballot to bring a slightly premature end to his season last year.

The Morton boss voted with his feet 12 months ago, infamously walking away from Cappielow with assistant Peter Houston before the club’s final Ladbrokes Championship game against Dundee United.

A disagreement with chairman Crawford Rae over playing Charlie Telfer, when one more appearance would trigger a contract extension, and being told their own deals wouldn’t renew resulted in the early exit.

And that dramatic conclusion to eight months in charge was just a hint of the struggles in his rookie campaign as a boss in his own right.

Johansson, after a year out, is convinced that harsh learning curve will stand him in great stead for a return to the dugout.

So too, he stressed, will the ‘fantastic job’ of the Scottish FA in keeping their coach education programme operating in some virtual forms during the coronavirus crisis.

The former Rangers striker is part of a group studying the UEFA Pro Licence through the SFA. As part of their second year, the pack were due to travel to UEFA headquarters in Switzerland this month for an integral part of the course.

While that had to be shelved, the past week has seen Johansson and fellow students treated to elements of the course in online form with a variety of guest speakers checking in.

Johansson said: ‘Our group were all looking forward to the trip. However, you want to keep learning and keep doing this course. That’s why it is great for the SFA to keep going with it.

‘It’s difficult at times. But it’s been great getting involved again and great from the SFA to make it so professional with so many good speakers. We started with Dan Ashworth, technical director at Brighton, who talked on his role there and his time with England when he was part of the successful youth sides.

‘Among others we’ve also had Pat Bonner and Robbie Neilson, who were really good.

‘It was a shame the way it ended at Morton but you learn from that. You have a lot of time to reflect and analyse and the aim is to come back stronger.’