The Flight of the Robins: Bristol City FC

Should make for an interesting read! Good luck!

2016-12-02 18:36#239180 WWred : Should make for an interesting read! Good luck!

Thanks man! Glad to have you along for the ride!

LEE JOHNSON: BRISTOL CITY APPOINT BARNSLEY BOSS AS HEAD COACH

06 February 2016

Lee Johnson won 20 of his 51 games in charge of Barnsley
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Bristol City have appointed Barnsley head coach Lee Johnson as their new boss on a three and a half year deal. The relegation threatened Championship side had been without a manager since sacking Steve Cotterill on 14 January. Johnson, 34, played for the Robins from 2006 to 2012, scoring 11 goals in 199 games for the club.

He left Oldham in February 2015 to replace Danny Wilson at Barnsley, who reached the Football League Trophy Final on Thursday. Johnson, who was given permission to speak to the Robins on Friday, will watch Saturday’s game against Charlton from the directors’ box.

The former Yeovil and Kilmarnock midfielder is the son of Cheltenham Town boss Gary Johnson, who was in charge at Ashton Gate from 2005 to 2010. His former assistant Tommy Wright and coach Paul Heckingbottom have been put in temporary charge of the Barnsley first team, with the Yorkshire club saying that “proper compensation” has been agreed for Johnson.

Bristol City chief operating officer Mark Ashton told the club website: ”Lee is a very bright, intelligent young man who is highly motivated and very detailed in his approach. He’s well known to the club; fans, stakeholders and staff.”

”He is one of the up and coming coaches in the country and having interviewed him, I had no hesitation in recommending to the board that Lee is the right fir for this football club.”

Barnsley were 22nd in the table in November after losing eight straight games, but have since climbed to 12th, and reached Wembley by beating Fleetwood on Thursday. He was named League One Manager of the Month for January after guiding his side to victories in all five league games. City are currently 22nd in the Championship, having won just one of their four of five matches under intermin manager John Pemberton, who will remain at the club as first team coach.

JOHNSON HAILS ‘REAL TEAM EFFORT’ AS CITY SECURE SAFETY

23 April 2016

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Head coach delighted to survive without relying on other results. Lee Johnson put City's survival in the Sky Bet Championship down to a "real team effort".

The head coach watched his side secure the point they needed to confirm safety as they drew 2-2 at Blackburn Rovers, although MK Dons' defeat to Brentford ultimately meant any scoreline at Ewood Park would have been enough. Johnson arrived in February with City entrenched in a relegation battle, but they've now reached the point of safety with two games to spare.

"It means so much to the club," Johnson told Bristol City Player HD. "It's huge and there's a big sigh of relief. We've worked so hard and it's been a real team effort. From a personal point of view, I'd like to thank everyone; the players, staff, board and the fans. We can really try and kick on now. We've got two games left and we want to make sure we compete in them and finish as high up the table as we can.”

“It’s been a tough season. Everybody has really rallied around when it matters and now we’ve got Championship status for next year. I was disappointed, naturally, that we ended up losing the lead and drawing the game, but we needed to come and get a point today and that was no mean feat. We had a tough game on Tuesday and the lads had to dig in because we had a seven-hour journey yesterday.”

“I thought we started alright, but then we started to look a little bit sorry for ourselves and a little bit leggy. We had to change the shape – we went to a diamond and we got a foothold in the game. I’m so pleased for everybody. It’s been intense. Hopefully, if we get our business right, we’ll be able to keep progressing.”

Aden Flint (knee) and Adam Matthews (hamstring) left the pitch early due to injuries that could bring a premature end to their respective campaigns. Korey Smith will serve a three-match ban, which will run into the first game of next season – after his red card for shoving Grant Hanley in the face.

Johnson added: “I didn’t see it properly because there was a crowd of bodies in the way. It looked like handbags and a scene from WWF. If he has pushed him in the face, he has to go, and he will be fined.”

LEE TOMLIN: BRISTOL CITY SIGN BOURNEMOUTH FORWARD ON THREE YEAR DEAL

05 July 2016

Lee Tomlin netted 43 times in 156 Peterborough games and 14 times in 64 matches for Middlesbrough
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Bristol City have signed Bournemouth forward Lee Tomlin for an undisclosed fee. The 27-year-old, who scored six goals in 18 appearances after joining the Championship club on loan in January, has agreed a three-year contract.

"I believe we've signed the most talented player at Championship level in terms of ability," head coach Lee Johnson said. Tomlin had two years remaining on his contract with Bournemouth.

The Leicester-born former Middlesbrough and Peterborough man made six Premier League appearances for the Cherries after signing from Boro in August 2015.

"He was fantastic for us last season and I believe his best football is ahead of him," Johnson added. "He does things every day in training that make you smile - you think how on earth has he done that?"

Tomlin becomes the Robins' third signing of the summer so far, joining former Norwich City midfielder Gary O'Neil and former Preston midfielder Josh Brownhill.

Great start so far!