Following an agreement that his role as coach would be reviewed if he rescued Platinum Stars from relegation, Cavin Johnson yesterday confirmed that he had been handed a three-year contract to build on his success at Dikwena.

Johnson was given eight games to prove his worth after he returned to the club in April as a replacement for his former assistant coach Allan Freese.

"I'd like to stay indefinitely, but at the moment we have agreed a three-year deal," said Johnson.

"I love this club and I want us to keep moving forward because the last season was poor and we were in danger. For the most part, we were competing with AmaZulu and Moroka Swallows [who have been relegated to the National First Division] and where are those two clubs now?"

Johnson was in charge when Dikwena finished runners-up to league champions Kaizer Chiefs during the 2012-13 season, but walked out on the club when he accepted the SuperSport United coaching job a few months later.

Matsatsantsa fired him last August.

While Dikwena have failed to hold on to some high-profile players - among them Thuso Phala, Lindokuhle Mbatha, Mogakolodi Ngele, Siyabonga Mpontshane, Luvolwethu Mpeta and Tshepo Gumede - Johnson believes he can unearth some more gems to help the club avoid a season as awful as the previous one.

"The biggest thing we can do is avoid selling our good players, unless we have guarantees that they are going to be regulars where they are headed next. We started something when we finished second and it looked like we would carry on when the club won two trophies in one season," the coach explained.

Johnson also confirmed that defenders Bryce Moon, Punch Masenamela (both Mamelodi Sundowns) and Gladwin Shitolo (Orlando Pirates) will return to their clubs following their six- months loan spell.