Lincoln City have not had a smooth ride in their first season back in the third tier since 1997/98.
After an outstanding start that saw the Imps win their first three league fixtures without conceding a goal, the departure of the Cowley brothers for Huddersfield in September derailed their season and stunned the club and its supporters.
South African chairman Clive Nates moved quickly and decisively to appoint highly-regarded coach Michael Appleton as the club’s new boss. However, while performances have generally been good, results have been harder to come by and the Imps are currently in a run of form which has seen them pick up just one league win since early September.
Under the Cowleys, Lincoln enjoyed three years of unprecedented success. Winning three trophies in three seasons led to a huge surge in both interest and attendances, and while results hit the buffers in the weeks before the former teachers left, crowds both home and away have generally held up, something Nates was quick to acknowledge when he spoke to Lincolnshire Live. He said, ‘Full marks to the fans for staying with us during what has been a transitional period, where the results before and after Michael took over haven’t provided many wins.’
‘They’ve been a massive part of the three incredible years we’ve had. If they hadn’t come aboard with us in such numbers, we wouldn’t have been able to finance that success.’
Despite winning only five league games so far, Lincoln fans have remained loyal. Average crowds for league matches at Sincil Bank this season are just under 9,000, while the average away attendance is well over 1,000.
This evening the Imps entertain Ipswich in an FA cup replay that will invoke memories of their giant-killing in 2017 when a televised 1-0 win first brought the Cowley brothers to the serious attention of the national media.
Lincoln were then in the National League while Ipswich were in the Championship, the fact the two sides are now meeting as equals is a massive illustration of how far the Imps have come in a short space of time.
The Cowleys get all the credit but Nates is an astute owner and a massive part of that success.
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Many critics labelled Imps supporters ‘plastic’ when attendances soared under the Cowleys, and on the face of its numbers have impressively held up well in the face of poor results.
However, there are murmurings that interest is on the wain.
Is this a subtle rallying call by the popular chairman, who is often found with fans in the away section rather than in the boardroom, to keep bums on seats.
The interview went on to state Appleton will get full backing in January, something that will be welcomed by Appleton and Imps fans.
Momentum is a powerful force, and after being on a steep upward curve for several seasons, the Imps have been on the slide for several weeks.
Many fans will be happy with League One safety at the end of the season, but it is clear Appleton needs a few wins to keep the fans interested and keep the pressure at bay, which is slowly starting to build in some quarters.
