Seth Johnson's career has been one big roller-coaster ride. He has experienced huge highs and difficult lows after breaking into the game as part of the conveyor-belt of talent nurtured by Dario Gradi at Crewe Alexandra. After winning promotion to the Premiership, the midfielder will be looking to get his career back on track, possibly with Derby County this summer. Ian Clarkson gauges the thoughts of a player with an uncertain future.
Q:CONGRATULATIONS SETH, BUT I SUPPOSE THERE IS A TINGE OF SADNESS AS YOUR CONTRACT IS UP?
A:Yes, I'm out of contract now, so we will just have to wait and see what happens. I would love another stab at the Premiership but it's up to the manager and the board now. If I have to walk away then I have to walk away. It's as simple as that.
Q:HOW HAS YOUR RETURN TO PRIDE PARK GONE?
A:The Derby fans have been great to me. I've had a lot of stick in my career, but they have always been great with me really. I'm probably one of the players who has had more abuse than most but it all stems back to my Leeds days and the money thing. I can take that. I've never really understood it. I would have been a fool to turn down the money. It was nothing to do with me. Everyone in the country would have done the same thing that I did. I can't really see what the issue was, but some pople seemed determined to make it one. I wasn't my fault but I ended up getting flak over it.
Q:DO YOU THINK IT HAS HELD YOU BACK, GIVEN YOU AN UNFAIR REPUTATION?
A:There's been a lot of rubbish talked about it. I've heard the stories that go around about how me and my agent's eyebrows rose when we heard how much money Leeds they were offering. I can tell you, that's absolute rubbish. I wasn't even there. I would have been happy to sign for any money, really, because they were up at the top of the league at the time. My move to Leeds had nothing to do with the money. I still get alot of stick from Leeds fans to this day. They never took to me. I never did as well as I would have liked either, to be honest.
Q:TO HAVE PLAYED YOUR PART IN THE SUCCESS STORY AT PRIDE PARK HAS HELPED HEAL THOSE WOUNDS, THOUGH?
A:Moving back to Derby was great for me. Getting them up is a fantastic feeling. This club belongs in the Premiership. Helping them to get back there gives you a great feeling of satisfaction. I've had the last laugh on all those people who have given me abuse this season.
Q:AND BILLY DAVIES HAS PERFORMED A MINOR MIRACLE, TOO?
A:The manager likes the lads to hvae a joke and go out and do things when the time's right. He likes us to be serious when the time is right to work. We have our days out and go paint-balling and go-karting. We've done all that this season and we've been to the races on occasions. It's all good, especially for the new boys who have just come in. We get to know them, have a night out, a few beers and break the ice.
Q:I UNDERSTAND THE VICTORY DIDN'T GO DOWN THAT WELL WITH CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE JOHNSON FAMILY....?
A:I was born in Birmingham. My mum and dad split up and I moved down to Devon when I was seven, but all my family still live there. My dad, my brother and me are all Aston Villa fans but my cousins and their kids all support West Brom. My mum still speaks to them, so she's the one who has had all the stick.
