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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Darren Johnstone

Hibs managerial candidate Johnson insists he's always learning as he aims for dugout return

Hibs managerial candidate Lee Johnson insists he's always learning as he aims for dugout return

HIBS managerial-candidate Lee Johnson insists he is constantly learning as he looks to make a return to the dugout.

Johnson has been out of work since being sacked at Sunderland in January, despite guiding the Black Cats to third in English League One.

Johnson is reportedly the front runner for the Easter Road vacancy with the Leith outfit searching for a permanent successor to Shaun Maloney.

And former Hearts midfielder Johnson insists he is always looking at what he can do better.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the 40-year-old said: “I think you are always learning, the minute you think you have seen it all in football something changes. 

“It’s so diverse, it's a brilliant game and the industry is tricky to manage and negotiate.

“(After leaving Sunderland) the first thing is actually investing a little bit of emotional capital back in the family, it’s all-consuming the manager’s job.

"I’ve got a daughter approaching 14 years old and I’ve been away effectively for 15 months. 7 o’clock til 11 o’clock at night pushing it hard. 

“The first thing is to have that balance to ensure the family get adequate time with you but also when it’s in you you can’t stop that thirst for knowledge. 

“There will be areas of your performance that you maybe want to reflect on and review and focus in on.”

Speaking during Mental Health Awareness Week, Johnson insists his love of being involved in the game will always overpower any disappointments he has.

Johnson, who took over at the Stadium of Light in December 2020 and has also managed Bristol City, Barnsley and Oldham, added: “Mental health is a really big topic at the moment and rightly so. 

“I think everybody goes through various stages of mental health but for me I have such a desire and enjoyment from my coaching and love of the game that it’s worse not being involved. 

“For me the pressure is a privilege to manage a big club, to manage people and I enjoy the daily interactions with staff, with fans. 

“All the emotions are in there, you are human. 

"You have to heal because effectively you have given everything in that period of time for whatever reason a football club and manager’s relationship is almost like a marriage and sometimes it breaks up.

"It’s not easy, I’m used to managing, leading 50, 60 people and now I can’t even manage the remote control in the house.”

Johnson, who has watched Alex Neil lead Sunderland to the play-off final, added: "On this occasion I can genuinely look myself in the mirror and say I’ve got very few regrets of where the club is, where it is now. 

"I tend to buy into the history of the club and the people of the club very quickly.

“I think it’s in a really good place and I think primed for success."

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