Charlton Athletic manager Dean Holden has expressed his confidence in Jojo Wollacott’s decision to join Hibernian, believing that the move will place the talented goalkeeper “back in the spotlight.”
Wollacott, a Ghanaian international, recently signed a three-year contract with Hibs and is poised to compete with David Marshall for a starting position in Lee Johnson’s lineup when the new season commences.
Having spent the majority of his career in England, with a brief stint at Bergsøy in Norway, Wollacott is no stranger to Hibs’ manager, Lee Johnson. The 26-year-old was initially part of Johnson’s squad during their time together at Bristol City and subsequently embarked on several loan spells. Notably, he represented clubs such as Weymouth, Clevedon Town, Truro City, Gloucester City, and Forest Green Rovers before joining Swindon Town permanently in 2022.
Unfortunately, a broken finger ahead of the World Cup with the Ghana national team disrupted Wollacott’s progress under former Charlton boss Ben Garner. Upon his return to action, he found it challenging to displace Ashley Maynard-Brewer as the starting goalkeeper.
However, current manager Dean Holden is thrilled to see Wollacott seize the opportunity to shine in Edinburgh. “I have known Jojo for a long time – I worked with him at Bristol City,” Holden shared with the South London Press. “It was terrible timing with the injury before the World Cup – he’s got huge ambitions to get back into that Ghana team. I have a good relationship with him, so we spoke openly and honestly.”
Holden further explained that when he took over as manager, Maynard-Brewer became his first-choice goalkeeper, with Wollacott assuming the position of the backup. Holden believes the move to Hibs benefits both parties, providing an opportunity for Wollacott to rejuvenate his career and adding fresh competition to Charlton’s goalkeeping options.
Expressing his excitement about the transfer, Wollacott stated, “Obviously, the gaffer was the manager at Bristol City, which is where I was a few years ago, so him signing me is a statement in itself because it shows his trust and belief in me. He played a massive part in my development at Bristol, so I want to repay that.”
With his move to Hibs, Jojo Wollacott aims to make a significant impact and continue his growth as a goalkeeper, inspired by the trust and support shown by Lee Johnson, who played an instrumental role in his earlier career.
