The Reading striker is currently on loan at Norwich and faced Bristol City on the weekend. Johnson had the last laugh with his side winning 1 - 0.
Johnson told the club's official website: "We made an inquiry about him and, with dignity, Steve Coppell said he didn't want Leroy coming back to Bristol.
"Then when we asked about Leroy's availability again, we were told he was in the immediate first-team plans.
"We knew we weren't in the race. The manager didn't want him coming back here, more to the area than the club itself I think."