Anthony Johnson: Null and voiding season ‘really disappointing but totally understandable’

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Chester’s co-manager is in ‘total agreement’ with his club’s viewpoint despite ending another strong campaign for the Seals.

The National League North and South leagues were null and voided on 18 February with Chester Football Club sitting third in the table, six points clear in the play-off positions.

Anthony Johnson, who has been joint manager of Chester FC alongside Bernard Morley since May 2018, has said that the decision ‘had to happen’.

The 37-year-old said: “As a manager, you wear two hats.

“From a business point of view, it’s the total correct decision which me, Bernard and all the players 100% agree with.

“Then you have your managers hat on and the team’s point of view and you see what you’ve done and where you’ve got to and the overriding emotion is disappointment.”

Johnson, who enjoyed joint managerial roles with Ramsbottom United and Salford City respectively before arriving at the Deva Stadium, believes the positives are there to take from the season despite its premature end.

“If ever there’s a season that hasn’t been wasted, this is the one, due to the fact that we put a process in place in terms of style of play, in terms of new players coming in, in terms of understanding where we’re at as a football club,” he added.

“We use what we’ve done for the last six months let’s say to propel us into next season.

“Our planning started a couple of weeks ago, with new contracts for two of our players so that planning starts immediately.

“In terms of what we’ve learnt this season, I would say last season, more than this season, was a waste whereas this year I feel has been a perfect time to put the building blocks for future successes hopefully.”

Looking ahead, Johnson feels as though it’s important to focus realistically on what he and his team can control, irrespective of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking on the uncertain future, he said: “All we can plan on is what we know, there is no point in us second guessing.

“Any planning we do is for the long term, for the benefit of Chester Football Club.

“The board will be no doubt stringent in their decision making because of what’s happened this last year.

“They’re [the board] always on the phone explaining to us what it’s probably going to look like, worst case scenario and you’d much sooner have worst case scenario rather than best case scenario and that never exists.”

Regardless of the negative impact that the global pandemic has had on non-league football, Johnson and Morley will certainly remain optimistic and positive when it comes to planning ahead for on-the-pitch matters.

“As negative as it sounds, we’ll work on worst case scenario in terms of the income and money side of things, but me and Bernard plan the football side of things for best case scenario, being ambitious,” Johnson added.

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