Gary Johnson has backed Keith Millen to be the manager to lead City forwards.

The Peterborough United boss, who worked with Keith as his assistant for four-and-a-half years, was shocked to hear news of his successor Steve Coppell's resignation and retirement yesterday.

But he feels the club is doing right in appointing his old number two Keith, and even had some words of advice for the latest City boss.

He told bcfc.co.uk: "Keith needs to be strong, bullet-proof and have belief in himself.

"There will be a million people telling him how to do things. He had a good honeymoon period at the back end of last season with a squad that wasn't a million miles away.

"I've experienced life as a manager and an assistant. Clearly the pressures on a number two are different to those which hang around a number one. When you're the manager you go home and never switch off, things stay with you longer.

"The club has a budget; I knew that and Keith knows that too. You need to work 24 hours a day with commitment and I'm sure Keith will do that.

"He called me when he was considering going for the job at the end of last season. You have to be ready to put yourself in a more precarious position, namely the manager, and Keith is ready to do that now.

"Everyone needs to rally behind him now. There is still a decent team at Ashton Gate, especially when the injuries clear up. Some people may have lost faith in the group but I'm sure Keith won't.

"You need to work 24 hours a day with commitment and I'm sure Keith will do that."  Gary Johnson

"In adversity Bristol City Football Club always pulls through - we all know about that Always Believe mentality - and I'm sure the club will get through this topsy-turvy period.

"Keith and the chairman go back a long way and know each other so well. I'd said to him 'never lose faith in the players, add quality and that will to win and it'll come good'."

Gary added that he had spoken "two or three times" with Keith since his departure from the club last season.

He added: "I intend to give Keith a ring once it's all settled down. I'm sure he's quite a busy man right now."

The former boss ended by saying: "I still wish the club well and hope they can be competitive in the Championship again."

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