Johnson had pencilled in a trip to Gigg Lane today expecting the Shakers to host Ipswich Town in a third round tie.
But now he, Bury boss Casper, and the club have a free weekend following last week's failed appeal against expulsion.
However, he'll be back in the near future as a fan or in his new role as soccer scout. Johnson enjoyed success at both Bury and Ipswich after beginning his career at Manchester United. He never played in the Reds' first team, but was a contemporary of Casper.
And he recognised then his young colleague was future management material.
"Playing was never going to be enough for Chris," said Johnson whose own teammates from that era included Terry Cooke and Jon Macken - the latter now at Ipswich.
"It certainly hasn't surprised me how well he is doing. But I think there are others in that group who will follow him into management," added Johnson, who counts Real Madrid's former England skipper, David Beckham, among his close friends.
"I still see a few of them but then it's easier for me because they are always on television," he quips. Johnson also has designs on taking a similar career path to Casper after being prematurely forced to hang up his boots at the age of 30.
After recovering from a broken leg and a cruciate ligament injury, it was a back problem that finally made him call it a day with Nottingham Forest.
Buzz
"I still miss playing; I miss the buzz but my life is a lot easier. I always thought I would be able to carry on playing until I was 35 or 36, but it wasn't to be in the end so I had to think of what I was going to do next," he said.
"In the end the decision was made for me. In fact, I only recently went for a second opinion and the verdict was just the same.
"The specialist simply told me to finish. I can look back and think perhaps I didn't work as hard as I could have done.
"But I had a good career and I had the honour to captain a big club like Forest. I played international football, I played in the Premiership and won individual awards."
To their credit Forest didn't discard the diminutive striker made surplus to requirements by Sir Alex Ferguson due to his lack of inches and application. He's coaching the Under 12s and Under 18s while undertaking some scouting duties.
The latter role has brought him to Gigg Lane on a number of occasions, possibly to report on the progress of top scorer Andy Bishop and talented midfielder, Marc Pugh.
Floodlights failed
"Earlier this season I was at the game against Wrexham the night the floodlights failed. I got asked to do the half-time draw and no one could see me," he joked.
"I couldn't believe how many people were still there from my time at the club. I owe a lot to Bury and the club will always have a special place in my heart.
"It was thanks to Gary and Phil Neville's connections with the club through their dad, Neville that I got fixed up.
"I was about to sign when Crewe came in for me at the last minute. It probably would have been a better move football-wise but in the end I won two promotions with Bury."
And he also has fond memories of old boss Stan Ternent. "Stan re-ignited my career when he was at Burnley and things were going wrong at Forest. I was desperate to go and play for him."
Johnson moved to the City Ground for é3m after four years at Ipswich where he established himself as one of the country's top strikers.
He played against United but never against the Shakers. He also represented England B.
"I hope Bury ask me back because it's a great club and I'd love them and Chris to do well," concluded David.
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