Shock news: Bangor City 1876 manager steps down!

Shock news from Bangor City 1876 – manager Michael Johnston has resigned tonight.

Johnston, manager since February 2022, leaves his role with the Cynru North club with immediate effect.

His decision was announced just an hour after a tremendous 2-1 victory for the Citizens over previously unbeaten leaders Brickfield Rangers.

Johnno, as he’s affectionately known to the Blue Army, has made the difficult decision to step away due to increasing work and family commitments, which mean he is no longer able to dedicate the time required to the role.

Johnno iwas already established as a Bangor football legend before his association with 1876 began..

He first joined City as a player in 2007-08 and went on to become a colossal defender in Neville Powell’s side which won three Welsh Cups, the Welsh Premier League title and a Europa League tie in a remarkable four-year spell.

Johnno later moved to represent the likes of Llandudno, Caernarfon Town and Brickfield Rangers, but when the new club Bangor 1876 was formed 2019-20, he was instantly on board.

After successes as a player, he became joint-manager with Mel Jones in February 2022 before later taking sole charge.

Johnno won his first match as boss – a 2-1 victory over Penrhyndeudraeth in the North Wales Coast Premier Division and his opening 10 games at the helm all ended in victories.

At the end of that season, 1876 won the divisional cup and by finishing runners-up in the Premier earned promotion to Ardal North West.

Bangor were promoted again at the end of 2022-23. via a play-off win over Cefn Albion to reach the tier 2 Cymru North.

After a solid debut campaign at the higher level, the second season was a catastrophe as a succession of losses saw the Citizens relegated on the final day of 2024-25.

Last season was a revelation as Johnno led Bangor to a treble of Ardal North West title, FAW Amateur Trophy and Ardal League Cup. They also reached the Welsh Cup semi-finals, becoming only the second Tier 3 side in the competition’s long history to achieve that feat.

Over the season, Bangor won 47 out of 51 matches, lost just twice and amassed 214 goals.

This first campaign back in Cymru North began with a home defeat against Bala Town, who had just been relegated from the Cymru Premier, but the Citizens have since won four on the bounce to go second in the table.

Johnno departs with a fantastic win ratio record of nearly 70% from his 183 matches in sole charge.

MICHAEL JOHNSTON’S RECORD AS BANGOR 1876/BANGOR CITY 1876 MANAGER (all competitions)

PLATED 183
WON 128
DRAWN 10
LOST 45
WIN RATIO 69.95%