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By John Wilkinson - Telegraph December 13 2006
Will Johnson speaks about his departure, the club discuss a replacement and Cov's first opponent in the EDF Trophy is revealed.

 

Jonno: Italian job too good to miss

 

Coventry captain Will Johnson says the chance to join Italian champions Benetton Treviso was too good to turn down.

 

The 32-year-old back row forward, who came to Cov from Leicester Tigers in July, has exercised a clause in his contract allowing him to move to a Guinness Premiership, French or Italian club.

 

He travelled to Italy last Thursday for talks with Treviso and Cov were then notified of an offer, made through a third party, which Johnson - who missed Saturday's win over Exeter with a knee injury - has accepted.

 

"It's been a crazy week," said Johnson, who broke the news to his Cov teammates and squad officials yesterday morning.

 

"Treviso have got a lot of injuries and although they are top of their league, it is about to collapse.

 

"I got the call, went over on Thursday to see what the club is about, and signed there and then.

 

"They are the Leicester of Italian rugby, they have been champions something like 12 times in the last 20 years, and I realised I was not going to get a chance like this again.

 

"I said goodbye to the players this morning which was really hard for me. We have been through a lot together.

 

"The players and the coaches were the main reason why I joined Coventry, I felt it was a good squad of boys, and I still think they can do good things.

 

"We've shown it in patches, and even in the Rotherham game there were spells when they couldn't live with us.

 

"It's a bit of unfinished business, but these opportunities only come along once.

 

"I'm sorry that I have to be another person making an announcement, but the way the boys played on Saturday I'm sure they can take it on and finish in a higher position than they are in now.

 

"I want to say thanks as well to all the fans and people at Cov who made me so welcome.

 

"I've not had a chance to say goodbye to them properly - people were asking on Saturday if I would be fit for next week and I couldn't say anything because I wanted to tell the players first - but hopefully I can come back some time this season and explain why I have done it."

 

Johnson, who watched Treviso suffer a 55-0 Heineken Cup defeat at Wasps on Sunday, could make his debut in this weekend's return game.

 

"If not, I will definitely be involved in the squad a week on Saturday to play Catania in Sicily," he said.

 

 

Cov to plug Johnson gap

 

Coventry will move to strengthen their squad following the shock departure of skipper Will Johnson - and owner Andrew Green is determined that the club will not be put in a similar position next season.

 

Johnson left the club yesterday after exercising a clause in his contract which allowed him to sign for Italian champions Benetton Treviso.

 

"We are very sad to see Will go, but it is something we can't control because it is part of his contract and we have to honour that," said Green.

 

"It has long been an ambition of Will's to play in Europe and ths offer represents a great opportunity for him to experience Italian life and culture.

 

"He has been a fantastic player and captain for the club and we wish him and his family all the best with his new venture. He leaves with our full blessing and as a friend of the club."

 

Added Green, who took ownership of the club in August: "We will be making sure that the contracts for next season are negotiated in a way to ensure that this can't happen again. We have to be a lot more commercially aware.

 

"We will be looking to strengthen the squad to compensate, but as of yet there is nobody coming in and we want to be certain that anybody we do sign is the right person for the job."

 

Prop Niall Treston, who has a similar clause in his contract to Johnson, guested for Bath United in their Guinness A League match against Bristol United last week, playing the first 63 minutes. Bristol scored a late try to win 8-5.

 

 

Cov get home trophy draw

Coventry have been drawn at home to National Division Two side Wharfedale in the fourth round of the EDF Energy National Trophy to be played on January 20.

It will be the first meeting between the two clubs.

Nuneaton, who beat Blaydon at Liberty Way in Saturday's third round have been given another home draw against Clifton.

Full draw: Bedford v Rotherham Titans, Bradford & Bingley v Bridgwater & Albion, Cambridge v Barking, Cornish Pirates v Moseley, Coventry v Wharfedale, Dings Crusaders v London Welsh, Doncaster v Rosslyn Park, Henley v Exeter Chiefs, Leeds v Tynedale, Newbury v Halifax, North Walsham v Otley, Nuneaton v Clifton, Plymouth Albion v Waterloo, Redruth v Lydney, Sedgley Park v Nottingham.

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