Former Yeovil Town and Torquay United manager Gary Johnson has made a somewhat surprise return to management with Southern League Premier Division South side Taunton Town.
Johnson, 70, had most recently been working as director of football at Cheltenham Town until September 2025. Prior to that he had been in charge at Plainmoor between 2018 and 2025, during which time he led the Gulls to the National League South title in the 2018-19 season, and he led them to the National League Play-off final in 2020-21. He left the club shortly after then chairman Clarke Osborne announced his intention to place the club in Administration in February 2024.
His spells at Huish Park between 2001 and 2005 and 2011 and 2015 saw him win promotion three times (Nationwide Conference champions 2002-03, League Two champions 2004-05 and League One play-off winners 2012-13). Johnson also won further promotions with Bristol City (League One runners-up 2006-07) and Cheltenham Town (National League champions 2015-16).
Should he lead the Peacocks back to National League South, it would represent a seventh career promotion.
