Martin O’Neill believes Tommy Johnson will be a "decent addition" to his Nottingham Forest scouting staff – and says he is a man whose opinion he trusts.
The former Notts County forward - who also had a spell on the Magpies coaching staff – is set to return to the city, on the other side of the River Trent.
O’Neill worked with Johnson during his time in charge at Celtic and believes Reds fans "will forgive" him for his Magpies roots, if he has a positive impact he believes he can have at the City Ground.
Johnson’s precise job title has not yet been confirmed, but the Reds boss says he is adding somebody whose opinion he "values".
The 48-year-old has been working in a scouting role with Watford in recent times, having worked on the coaching staff at Meadow Lane between 2007 and 2010.
“We will see what it is precisely (the role). But he is someone whose opinion I value,” said O’Neill.
“I had him as a player and Tommy says that it did not take me too long to get rid of him – which was not quite the case.
“He played under me at Celtic and he has an opinion and a view of the game.
“He has been doing this job for some time with other clubs and, as I said, I do value his opinion.
“When I met up with him over the last few years, he would talk to me about certain players – and what he said would mostly come to fruition.
“He would be a very decent addition for us.”
Johnson made his name as a player at Notts, where he was part of the side that plotted a course right into the top flight under Neil Warnock.
He scored 47 goals in 118 appearances for the Magpies, before going on to play for Derby, Aston Villa, Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday.
But O’Neill – who himself had a spell playing for Notts late in his career – does not believe Johnson’s history will work against him.
“That is right (he did make his name playing for Notts), but I think we can forgive him for that,” said O’Neill.
