Oli Johnson released by York City

12:10pm Friday 1st March 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Dave Flett, Sports reporter

Oli Johnson Oli Johnson

Benenden Healthcare Society - Proud sponsors of York City

OLI Johnson has left York City after reaching an agreement over the remainder of his contract at Bootham Crescent.

The 25-year-old forward, whose one-year deal with the Minstermen would have come to an end in the summer, has departed having never completed a full game under City boss Gary Mills.

Johnson made just one start following his arrival from Oxford last June during the 4-0 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy home defeat to Coventry when he was replaced on 68 minutes.

In a campaign dogged by a stomach and groin problem, Johnson’s League contributions also amounted to a paltry four substitute outings with his last of seven appearances in City colours coming during the 4-3 FA Cup replay defeat to AFC Wimbledon in mid-November.

On the former Yeovil, Norwich and Stockport attacker’s departure, Mills said: “We have come to an agreement with Oli Johnson and he is no longer with us.

“I wasn’t getting enough from Oli and things didn’t work out so he’s moved on.

“I have to concentrate on the players that are still here and the jobs they need to do for this football club.”

Johnson played no part in Wednesday’s 2-0 North Riding Senior Cup semi-final defeat to Marske United and becomes the second summer signing, after left-back Danny Blanchett, to be released by Mills prior to the end of his contract.

City boss Mills did not attend the Marske match, which included five players with first-team experience – Paul Musselwhite, Lee Bullock, John McReady, David McDaid and Tom Allan – as well as transfer window recruit Jameel Ible, but added: “The result was not a good one and I will be looking at the DVD to see what happened.”

First-year pro Tom Platt, meanwhile, continues to impress during his second loan spell at Harrogate Town, having been on target in their last two wins against Gloucester at the weekend and Boston United on Tuesday night.

The teenage midfielder is the Blue Square Bet North play-off contender’s third top scorer this season with ten goals despite only playing 14 games.

Having been on the bench for City’s first team, however, he has never made it on to the pitch with Mills explaining that he did not feel Platt was quite ready for League Two football.

The Minstermen chief added: “I gave Tom a contract until the end of the season but I did not really see enough to play him here.

“He went to Halifax for a while but they did not want him back but sometimes, as a player, you find somewhere where you do well and he’s certainly found that to be the case at Harrogate.

“It’s a couple of levels down from here but I hope he goes on to help to get them in the play-offs.”

Comments(17)

Yorkess says...
5:27pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Not a surprise really. Good luck to him in the future.

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old_school_minsterman says...
5:48pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Got to feel for the lad due to the number of injuries he has had this season and never got a chance when he was fit.

Looked bright the odd appearance he made from the bench but can't really afford to have such injury prone players at the club when working on a small budget. Same goes for Doig too.

All the best O.J.

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old_school_minsterman says...
5:48pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Got to feel for the lad due to the number of injuries he has had this season and never got a chance when he was fit.

Looked bright the odd appearance he made from the bench but can't really afford to have such injury prone players at the club when working on a small budget. Same goes for Doig too.

All the best O.J.

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OLD - HEAD says...
5:55pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Oli Johnson was a poor signing by Gary Mills, one of many unfortunately. A few of the others played against Marske in that 0-2 defeat. Heard the Marske Manager on the radio saying that his team have been prolific goalscorers all season. Now perhaps he WOULD be a good signing as our "Striker Coach".

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neutral observer 2 says...
6:02pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Hardly Mr Mills's fault, when a player is injured constantly.
At least he's released him.

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billoofyork says...
6:16pm Thu 28 Feb 13

had a bit of history with injuries so was a risk. hopefully next summer's recruits will not have the same track record.

agree with post above though - not really GM's fault. maybe was a risk worth taking, just didn't work out.

let's hope this also may be a sign that coulson isn't too far away. we have sorely missed his finishing. was looking lethal

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James1992 says...
6:21pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Echo the sentiments on here, feel sorry for Johnson with the shocking luck he's had with injuries.

However, it was known he had injury troubles when we signed him so youve got to say its another questionable signing, one of many!

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van the man says...
7:10pm Thu 28 Feb 13

neutral observer 2 wrote:
Hardly Mr Mills's fault, when a player is injured constantly.
At least he's released him.
What is Mills fault where your concerned!! are you his Mrs?, The mans lost it big time, OJ is just one of many Sunday league players he has made major misjudgement on, the way he,s wasted the chairmans money since he,s been here is nothing short of scandalous, it should been enough to get him the sack alone, without mentioning the dredful home form.

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duffy says...
7:23pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Sadly this looked a bloody poor signing right from the start. He came with all and sundry warning us about the guy never being fit, I do wonder just how thorough our medical was on the guy. Pity because by all accounts he is a talented player and maybe because of this Mr Mills was willing to take the risk. I guess he might go part time in order to carry on playing but I can't see him ever playing full time again.

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bill bailey says...
8:14pm Thu 28 Feb 13

NO sentiment in business that goes for football ,its a business,thats why clubs go down the pan. at any level you have to run a tight ship,it seems to me some signings and staff its been a case of old pals stay togeather, "Not good medicine"

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paddymacwakey says...
8:30pm Thu 28 Feb 13

agree with duffy about johnson and the majority of mills signings.oxford knew what they were doing when they unloaded oli crock johnson.i would like to know how much money he was on whilst being injured all the time,or sat on the bench all season.the only good thing thats come out of it,is the club saving a bit more money.

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van the man says...
9:33pm Thu 28 Feb 13

paddymacwakey wrote:
agree with duffy about johnson and the majority of mills signings.oxford knew what they were doing when they unloaded oli crock johnson.i would like to know how much money he was on whilst being injured all the time,or sat on the bench all season.the only good thing thats come out of it,is the club saving a bit more money.
The chairman should make Mills pay towards HIS mistakes, the way he has spent the clubs limited funds is shocking, the board should make him contribute in some way to the moneypit he created.

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Sir Alex says...
8:13am Fri 1 Mar 13

Mills has really made some poor signings last 14 months. Exception Coulson. Any chance he might play this season again?

Mills will have been at Bradford Wednesday.

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yorko66 says...
8:24am Fri 1 Mar 13

Not many of the super summer signings left. We need to learn from this. We will probably be in a better position to sign players next season as we will be a league side and not a newly promoted risk for players so w may attract better players the one thing we must never do again is break the wage structure just to get a signature. i would rather we were mid table but finantially sound than have a big go for one season and end up in administration. I live in Gosport and most of the blokes i work with are pompy supporters. They dont even know if they will have a club come May we dont need that again COYR Keep the Faith

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duffy says...
8:44am Fri 1 Mar 13

Sir Alex wrote:
Mills has really made some poor signings last 14 months. Exception Coulson. Any chance he might play this season again?

Mills will have been at Bradford Wednesday.
Back in training and hopefully three weeks away from playing.

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rogue84 says...
10:55am Fri 1 Mar 13

christ we need coulson back....both he and chambers were extremely effective when they played upfront at the start of the season.
lets hope he's back at just the right time!

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Realistic ycfc says...
10:19pm Fri 1 Mar 13

We have made dubious signings in close season, oil Johnson, blanchett, and mccready, decent players on paper but don't seem to have had their chance to shine under this management

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