Yesterday evening, Lincoln City announced that Mark Kennedy has left the club following two wins in nine games across all competitions. Having dealt with a recent injury crisis that left the club without a fit senior striker, on the surface this seemed a harsh sacking, with the Imps now on the lookout for a new manager.
With such a talented set of players on paper, even without the services of Ben House and Tyler Walker to call on, more was expected of the East Midlands side in recent weeks. Kennedy will be remembered for giving Lincoln fans some memorable away days at Ipswich Town, Plymouth Argyle and Barnsley last season, but also for the dropped points against bottom-half sides at home.
With players to return from injury, coupled with an already exciting squad and plenty of time left in the season, this is an extremely enticing job. With that in mind, City’s hierarchy has a huge decision to make, with their most recent appointments either fresh in management or young and upcoming. Will they continue that way?
Danny Cowley
No prizes for the name on most people’s lips. The legendary Imps manager was always going to be speculated with a return to Sincil Bank. He will need no introduction to Lincoln supporters, having guided them from the National League to League One before his departure to Huddersfield in 2019.
Having kept the Terriers in the second tier, he surprisingly left the club after less than a season before eight months out of work. After a mixed spell with Portsmouth, the Cowley brothers will be looking to get their managerial career back on track. Where better than their most successful managerial spell to date?
Dean Brennan
Current Barnet boss Brennan has done a stellar job in leading the Bees to second place in the National League, only three points behind leaders Chesterfield. He took over at The Hive after Barnet had survived relegation the previous season, owing to a premature end enforced by Covid-19.
He has taken the club from relegation strugglers to promotion contenders, with a fifth-place finish last term. All his management so far has been in Non-League, so it could well be the time for him to take a crack at managing in the EFL.
Stephen Bradley
A name linked with the Lincoln job when Mark Kennedy was appointed, he has not harmed his prospects of taking over since. Under his stewardship at Shamrock Rovers, the club have won the last three League of Ireland titles and currently lead the way with four games remaining.
With the LOI set to finish in November, it may be that the Imps appoint an interim manager before making a move for Bradley, if that is the man they are going for. A new challenge may be the way forward for Bradley, particularly if Rovers win their fourth title on the bounce.
Damien Duff
Another former Irish international, Duff took on the Shelbourne job in November 2021 after the club had reached the Republic of Ireland’s top division once again. Following a seventh-place finish last term, the former Fulham man has the Reds sitting in fifth spot with the campaign approaching its climax.
There is an interesting side note to this, with Shelbourne forward Jack Moylan signing for the Imps after the current LOI season finishes. Whether Duff is tempted to follow his current player is down to him, but such a move would not be unexpected with Lincoln’s recent signings from the Irish market. Who better to get the most out of such players than a manager from that league?
Luke Williams
Perhaps a surprise name on the list, and it would take a lot to tempt Williams away from Notts County as they aim for back-to-back promotions. The Magpies currently sit second in League Two following a storming start to the campaign, although their progress was checked by a hammering against Nottinghamshire rivals Mansfield Town at the weekend.
The job with County was Williams’s first for five years after departing from Swindon Town following relegation, with two assistant roles since. Whether Williams would be prepared to jump ship having built such a promising project in Nottingham seems unlikely, but it would certainly be a statement of intent if Lincoln did appoint the 43-year-old as their new manager.
