‘We need stability’ – Dons defender ready to get down to business under Johnnie Jackson
BY EDMUND BRACK
AFC Wimbledon defender Lee Brown believes that Johnnie Jackson’s appointment as manager will bring stability to the football club.
The 31-year-old put pen to paper with the Dons last January after being told by Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley that he was free to leave the club in the winter transfer window.
Brown joined Wimbledon when they were already winless in nine matches under Mark Robinson. Mark Bowen replaced Robinson midway through the second half of the season, but the club failed to pick up a single victory for the rest of the campaign as they suffered their first relegation as a phoenix club.
Jackson is Brown’s third manager in his six months at Plough Lane. He was handed the managerial role just 13 days after leaving Charlton Athletic.
“We do need stability as a football club,” Brown told the South London Press when asked about Jackson’s appointment.
“We have just built a new stadium, and the football club probably didn’t have the budget [last season] that they wanted to have. But it’s stepping stones as a football club. If you said five years ago that they would own their own stadium that is on its way to being paid off – and we’re building to go again – then people would have taken it.
“Sometimes, you have got to take a step back to take three forward, so hopefully that’s where we are.
“He [Jackson] has come in and set the stall out from day one.
“It’s a fine balance as a manager of saying: ‘Look, I will try and help you players out, and let’s have a laugh and a joke, but when it’s time to work, it’s time to work’.
“There has got to be a line, and he has set it out straight away. There are fundamentals and non-negotiables which can’t be dropped off. We have got to have standards, and from the very first day, he has set out the standards of where we have to be. It’s spot on – I have been impressed so far.”
Jackson recorded more than 400 appearances in his playing career. He featured in the Premier League with Tottenham and became a fans’ favourite at Colchester United and Charlton Athletic before hanging up his boots in 2018.
After being involved in the backroom team under Karl Robinson, Lee Bowyer and Nigel Adkins, he was handed the manager’s job on a full-time basis and guided the club to comfortable League One safety last season after taking over with the Addicks in the relegation zone.
“He has earned everyone’s respect from the first day,” said Brown. “He has had a fantastic career. I have watched his career, and I am an admirer of what he did. All the boys will be.
“It’s hard to play at the level he did and have the career he had, and we’re trying to live it now.
“The manager has a lot to do in recruitment, because we have lost a few over the summer – we’re a bit light on numbers.
“But sometimes, that galvanises the squad when everything is against you in terms of numbers and personnel – it brings the boys even more together.
“We’re all behind him, and if we all pull in one direction hopefully we can do some good things.”
While Brown is looking at his first full campaign with the Dons as a chance to start over again.
“I don’t want to dwell too much on last year – it was a depressing time for everyone involved,” said Brown. “Losing football matches affects your whole life. As much as you think it doesn’t, it does. No one wanted that [the relegation] on their CV.
“It wasn’t meant to be. There were no bad eggs in that changing room. I have been in changing rooms where there have been some real bad eggs, and it’s not what we had last season.
“Unfortunately, we just were not good enough – it’s as simple as that.
“Now we’re in a position where everyone has a clean slate, and we have to go again.
“I was relegated once in my career before, and we bounced back the first time. But to get that, there are a lot of things that need to happen – not disrespecting League Two, for starters, and thinking that it’s going to be easy – it’s a tough league.”
Jackson made former Millwall captain Alex Pearce his first acquisition as Dons manager, convincing the centre-back to drop down two divisions.
Brown himself has captained Bristol Rovers and Portsmouth during his 14-year career, while Alex Woodyard and Will Nightingale have also worn the armband at Wimbledon.
When asked if having several leaders will be crucial heading into Wimbledon’s first season in League Two since 2016, Brown said: “The manager has highlighted that we need a bit more experience and know-how.
“If you can get one or two captains within your dressing room, that’s brilliant, but it’s equally important if you can get four or five winners.
“Of course, you need your flair – you need your young lads. They’re so important to the team as well because they are the ones with all the ability.
“There is a place for captains and leaders, but we need quality alongside that as well.”
PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD
