Bristol City boss Lee Johnson tells fans he won’t be ditching them for Aston Villa

BRISTOL CITY boss Lee Johnson has reassured fans he has no intention of taking the Aston Villa job.

The up-and-coming manager was linked with the Villans post after they axed Roberto Di Matteo.

But Johnson, 35, insists he is committed to continuing his fine work with the Robins.

He said: “I always dreamed of being here and earning my stripes as a coach, so why would I want to leave when I’m so happy.

“My focus is one hundred per cent on Bristol City, because what is happening here is so exciting.

“I’m not going to comment on other things, I just wanted people to know how I feel.

“I’m fiercely ambitious, don’t get me wrong, but my ambition is being channelled into Bristol City. This is my place.”

Johnson replaced Steve Cotterill in February and kept the Robins in the Championship.

And this season he has taken them to fifth place in the second tier after winning six of 11 games, with Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham bagging 11 in 14 matches.

Johnson added: “I have a really exciting group of players and I want to see where it can take us. Crowds are on the up at Ashton Gate, we have a fantastic revamped stadium and this is a club going places.

“I have a good working relationship with Mark Ashton (chief operating officer), Steve Lansdown (majority shareholder) and the board of directors. I also have a good staff, who all understand their roles and what is required of them.”

On links to the Villa job, Johnson commented: “It is a good reflection on the club and portrays it in a positive light. It suggests people from outside realise something exciting is happening here.

“That’s why I’m happy here and I want people to know that I’m doing nothing to put myself in the shop window or attract interest from outside.”

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