Johnstone reportedly skipped a team meeting after fallout with Valerin Ismael which eventually led to the sacking of the manager. As per reports, Johnstone skipped a team meeting after Valerien Ismael said he would be on the West Brom bench.
The former Baggies boss was sacked the previous week. He was replaced by Steve Bruce as the new manager for West Brom.
Various reports indicate, the falling out between him and the goalkeeper apparently played a significant role in the decision.
Speaking on Liquidator podcast, the BBC WM host said:
“I heard from one source that after being told that he’d be on the bench, Johnstone missed a team meeting and was therefore bombed out of the squad for a couple of games”.
The former Barnsley manager’s management of his squad seems to have been a significant problem, and his confusing treatment of different players is seen to have helped lead to his downfall.
Considering the way club captain Jake Livermore was brought straight back into the side even though his replacements did well Goldberg went on to say:
“It was laying down a marker wasn’t it? He was saying that there are some players in this side who in my view are undroppable. Who are guaranteed a game.
“To say that to Jake Livermore, but to say the opposite to one of England’s number one goalkeepers in place of the competent journeyman that is David Button, imagine what an insult in that context Sam Johnstone feels that to be.”
Johnstone situation with manager
Previously it was reported how concerns about Ismael’s relationships with the players worsened. The worsened relationship within the squad contributed to the board thinking about removing him. Moreover, it came after Robert Snodgrass left on a free transfer after another disagreement.
Meanwhile, his decisions were beginning to lead to players openly ignoring commitments. As a result, it was surely only a matter of time before those in charge made a move.
If the results had been good then the 46-year-old former defender might have been backed against Johnstone. However, he could hardly bring good performances from the team.
Moreover, he displayed a poor brand of football, and the fans were seemingly unhappy. As a result, he never had enough results at the Hawthorns to keep his position as the manager.
It was a considerable fall from grace for the former Bayern Munich player. He was given a four-year contract at the start of the season but didn’t see out one.
With Bruce as the new manager, West Brom fans hope that he can win the Championship promotion for the fifth time.
