Yeovil Town have confirmed that League One side Bristol City have approached the Yeovil Town Board of Directors for permission to talk to Gary Johnson. In a statement issued by the club today, the club imply that the approach made was as a direct request made by Gary himself to grant permission to speak to the Bristol club, but that the board said that an approach had to be made through the proper channels. Now the club say such an approach has now been made, although they stop short of BBC Bristol's claims that Johnson had already left Huish Park.
The full statement on the Glovers official site reads:
"Earlier this week the chairman of Yeovil Town Football Club was asked by Gary Johnson whether we would allow permission for Bristol City Football Club to talk to him. The board of directors maintained their previously stated position that Gary is contracted to the club and the directors are very anxious for that to continue so we can build on the recent successes and establish ourselves in League One. However, as before, if an approach through the proper channels is made to the club, the directors, with reluctance, would not stand in Gary's way if he wished to consider any such approach.
We can confirm that since that conversation the chairman of Bristol City Football Club has contacted John Fry and discussion are currently ongoing with regard to their vacant manger's position. As soon as there is any further news an official statement will be issued by the club."
The curious development here is the suggestion that Gary himself initiated the move - a surprise given that the Yeovil manager has turned down approaches made by far bigger clubs such as Derby County and Coventry City. The claim that Johnson initiated the move would imply that he holds a strong interest in the position, which does not provoke optimism for the likelihood of him remaining as Yeovil's first team manager. The only question mark that would remain is that if Bristol City are the right club for him, then why were Derby County and Coventry City so wrong?
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23 September 2005 : 
