Meticulous, ruthless and fiery: A unique insight into Lee Johnson, his methods and what he'll bring to Sunderland

Paul Murray’s endorsement of Lee Johnson is a strong one – and one which should hold a great deal of relevance given the unique point of view the former Oldham Athletic man has.

The 44-year-old played under Johnson as he took the reins at Boundary Park in his first managerial role, before then moving into his coaching team. The duo then lived together for a period as they took on respective roles in South Yorkshire, meaning Murray can offer an insight unlike any other when it comes to Sunderland’s new head coach.

From the training ground to the living room, Murray has witnessed Johnson and his methods at first hand – with their relationship having begun in 2013...

THE MANAGER

That was the year when Johnson was handed the job at Oldham, with the side sat in the League One relegation zone and having won just three of their previous 15 games in all competitions.

Confidence was low and, as an unproven manager – the youngest in the EFL at the time – Johnson faced an uphill struggle.

Murray was still registered as a player at this point as he came towards the end of his career, and was blown away by the work the rookie boss implemented from day one in the North West.

"He was an unknown,” explains the former midfielder.

"He came in with a few recommendations from some senior figures in football, and he was a breath of fresh air for us. For his first job in football, he looked like he’d been in it for a few years.

“He had his own ideas, was very competitive, but the main thing was - even at that young age - how meticulous he was on the training ground.

"And he was ruthless in terms of what he wanted; if you weren’t delivering then he would make some decisions. He’s very fiery, and there were some moments it over-spilled, but that’s football and what makes him what he is - because he is competitive.”

The impact was immediate. Johnson led his side to victory over Hartlepool United in his first game and the side lost only three of their remaining games as Oldham were guided to safety – with Johnson Jr. beating his father Gary’s Yeovil Town side en route to a 19th-placed finish.

So how did a manager with no experience, and who was several years younger than some of the stronger characters in the dressing room, turn things around so quickly?

“With the way he was on the training ground,” says Murray.

"He’s obviously been around football, some good clubs, and picked up some good habits. If you do really good stuff on the training ground and everyone has that focus on achieving something, then it’s irrelevant how old a manager is.

"He won people over by being how he was on the training ground.”

THE COLLEAGUE

After seeing Oldham secure safety, Murray decided to call time upon his playing career and was handed the role of first-team coach in Johnson’s coaching set-up.

The 2013/14 season, Johnson’s first in management and Murray’s first in the dugout, saw the Latics consolidate in League One – before the following campaign yielded an impressive start.

“That season we did brilliantly,” recalls Murray.

"I think we went twelve unbeaten.”

And for the first-team coach, it was a valuable learning experience as he watched on with interest at how Johnson was transforming the squad.

“Working with him and seeing it first hand, it was really interesting for me.

"Obviously I’m his senior by quite a few years but I was just drawn into everything he was doing - the way he treated the lads in terms of schedule and the way he coached on the training ground.

"Everything was enjoyable, that’s what I remember. The players had some enjoyable sessions and there was substance to them, it was always for the Saturday.”

Oldham went unbeaten from mid-September to the start of November, as Johnson’s transformed squad began to catch the eye.

And their fine form was even more remarkable given the financial constraints the manager was working under.

“Our budget that year was peanuts,” says Murray.

"I think it was £1.2million all in, with staff.

"But he got the personnel to play different systems. We had the right players at that time and they could play in different positions, different formations - so it wasn’t a shock if we went from a 4-4-2 to a diamond, everyone knew their roles. The preparation was in the training.”

Johnson had also been able to implement his own tactical approach by this point too which, while showcasing the flexibility Murray alluded to, always had Oldham on the front foot.

“We were always attacking,” explains Murray.

"But ultimately we were good defensively too. We had good attacking players but we were really solid at the back - we had James Tarkowski, Jonathan Grounds, some really good players who have gone on to do great things in football.

"You need to start from that solid base and that’s what we had - and he seemed to get the balance right.”

After the fine start to the 2014/15 season, Murray was eventually offered a managerial role of his own at Hartlepool United.

Things didn’t quite go to plan at Victoria Park, though, and the coach would soon be reunited with Johnson – albeit in a slightly different guise.

THE ROOMMATE

Not long after Murray’s move, Johnson made one of his own – having been offered the managerial post at Barnsley.

By this point, Murray was back in the game working with Sheffield Wednesday’s under-18 set-up. With the duo both working in South Yorkshire, they ended-up living together for a year.

This saw Murray given an insight into the life of Johnson away from the training ground.

Although the young manager, a self-confessed student of the game, didn’t exactly switch off when he returned home.

“It was all sorts of planning, who could he sign for Barnsley, what about this and that,” says Murray.

"There was all sorts of talk about tactics and players, and even at that time I’m sure he was plotting his future and how things were going to pan out.”

And that future now brings Johnson to Wearside, a place where no shortage of more-proven managers have failed in recent years.

But with a footballing restructure on the horizon, optimism is high at the Stadium of Light – and Murray believes Johnson will relish the chance to be the man to finally get it right at Sunderland.

“He’ll love it on the sidelines because he knows what it’ll be like when people start rolling back into the Stadium of Light.

"It’s a fantastic place and he’ll relish that.

"He’s hard-working and that’s something the fans can relate to.

“I’m sure he knows it’s a difficult job for anyone at Sunderland with the expectations, but he’s resilient.

"He’ll definitely give his best shot at turning that club around, for sure.

"What he did at Bristol was create a culture, and he’s got a good chance of doing that now at Sunderland.”

A message from the Football Clubs Editor:

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Sunderland AFC coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of SAFC coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.

Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor