Johnson gunning for his former club

FORMER Bristol City player Lee Johnson believes a big clue to the puzzle of the club’s under-achievement lies in poor recruitment.

Tomorrow’s visitors to Boundary Park sit outside the relegation zone on goal difference only - in spite of a big budget following last term’s drop from the Championship.

“When you have decent wages to spend at Championship level, that means sometimes an unfashionable signing if you believe it will be of benefit.

“Maybe people have fallen foul of making name signings that don’t quite fit the bill. They haven’t had bad managers, certainly, so it can only be the recruitment.”

Seven years ago Johnson was part of the Robins team that gained promotion to the Championship; 12 months later he played at Wembley as they were beaten 1-0 by Hull in the Championship play-off final.

But there will be no room for sentiment tomorrow.

“I was there for nearly six years and was part of some unbelievable ups and downs at the club,” Johnson added.

“I have watched since then and they are a club close to my heart, as all my old clubs are.

“I am very surprised by the demise of Bristol City and it makes me feel sad at the moment.

“We worked so hard to get them to the Championship and then to within one game of the Premier League. Then all of a sudden, there is a genuine threat of them going down this year.

“That said, come Saturday, I don’t care.”