Johnson beat off big names to the hotseat
by Paul Baker

Saturday 11th December 2004

STEVE Johnson beat a host of big names to land the Weymouth manager's job, it has been revealed.

The former Latvia under-18 coach saw off challenges from the likes of ex-Terras and Aston Villa
star Shaun Teale, Northern Ireland international Jimmy Quinn and Republic of Ireland World Cup defender Liam Daish.

Chief executive Martyn Harrison said: "There's was a great deal of interest in the job after Steve Claridge was dismissed and the quality of applications was impressive.

'It was vice-chairman Matthew McGowan's job to sift through them and I know he had a diffiicuIt task.

Initially about half the aplications were rejected for one reason or another but some very good CVs came from the likes of Jimmy Quinn, Shaun Teale and Liam Daish.

But while people like that were very tempting we pretty much decided we wouldn't be going for a big name from the professional game because we just tried that in Steve Claridge and it hadn't worked out."

The application that did grab Terras board's attention was Johnson's and their interest increased once they'd met him.

Matthew originally met Steve and was very impressed," added Harrison, "and I felt there was somethmg about when I was intreduced for the first time.

He seemed to know what was required at Weymouth on all sides and, more importantly, he got them in the right order.

'It was vital that the new manager had a grasp of how the club operated off the park and Steve did obviously done his homework."

What finally tipped the scales as a meeting between Harrison, McGowan and Johnson's elder Brother and Yeovil Town manager, Gary.

"We went up to Sherborne to have a chat with Gary," explained Harrison, "and that was what finally did it.

He convinced us Steve was the right man for the job and I'm delighted with the way things have gone so far.

"It obviously helps having your brother in charge up the road at League club, but Steve is very much his own man with his own ideas and ways of doing things.'

Meanwhile one man who has been lined up for an interview was Weston-super-Mare chief Frank Gregan.

The Terras were keen to talk the ex-Forest Green Rovers boss but financial problems at Woodspring Park ended any hopes of him moving to the Wessex Stadium.

Harrison added: "Frank was the sort of guy we wanted and he applied for the job with the permission of his chairman.

He we then asked to cut players' wages up at Weston squad and called me to ask if he could retract his application.

"He felt he couldn't be asking his players to take wage drorp and then suddenly walk out on them and it's loyalty and honest like that that makes him one of games most respected charactors."