Johnson on Johnson
By Matt Pitman

Saturday 22nd January 2005

YEOVIL boss Gary Johnson says he has got a lot of sympathy for brother Steve.

The Glovers manager is urging Weymouth fans to be 'patient' with his sibling whose reign at the Wessex
Stadium began last November.

Gary has spoken of his admiration at how quickly the Terras chief overhauled his squad following his appointment.

He told Echosport: "It seems to be that Weymouth are making progress and are definitely on the
right track under Steve, and I'm not just saying that because he's my brother.

They've gone from lower mid-table to virtually the play-offs in a couple of months which is good and shows things are coming together.

"But what has impressed me most is just how quickly Steve managed to overhaul his squad.

"Every new manager wants to impose his own ideas when he takes over but often it takes quite a long time to get all the players you want in and out of the club.

"Steve needed to get rid of a number of high earners who were on long contracts which is a far harder thing to do than simply just getting rid of them.

"He and the Weymouth chairman [Martyn Harrison] deserve a lot of credit for getting it done so quickly and by doing so, have given themselves a chance for the rest of the season.

"What's important now is for the Weymouth fans to be patient with Steve and the team because it takes time for new players to settle in.

"In a way I liken his situation to mine when I first arrived at Yeovil.

"In the first couple of months I got quite a bit of stick from people who were telling me to go back to Latvia and other things like that.

"But I stuck with my principles, eventually got the people I wanted in, and I'd like to think we are now reaping the rewards."

He added: "Weymouth are a really good club, who should be playing at a higher level, at least in the Conference National.

"The crowd down there demand success which is made all the more greater because things haven't gone well in recent years.

"I know ourselves and Weymouth are historical rivals but it would be good for the area for Weymouth to be successful.

"It's nice to hear that Steve wants to model Weymouth on what we've achieved at Yeovil because that's a compliment

"I'll certainly do what I can as far as possible to help them succeed, as I have with the loaning of a couple of players recently.

"But that doesn't mean that just because Steve's my brother, I'll always be there for him.

"There will be times when we go for the same player and then he'll just be a rival manager."