Lincoln City are without a permanent head coach at the minute after dispensing with the services of Mark Kennedy, and one of their former staff is set for a return.
Michael Appleton will be back in a Sincil Bank dugout this week as his Charlton side looks to continue their exciting run of form in League One against the Imps. Appleton left Lincoln in May 2022 after two-and-a-half seasons in charge, and in that time, he oversaw the Covid break, a rebuild of the squad, and took them to within a whisker of Championship football. His second full season wasn’t quite as successful, and after securing safety late into April, he left his position.
Mark Kennedy took his place, but after just 16 months in charge, he has now left the post. Appleton has also been in another job, Blackpool, which he left as they struggled against relegation from the Championship.
The Addicks’ trip to the LNER Stadium will be the first time Appleton has been back to Lincoln since leaving, and he’s told their club website he’s relishing the opportunity to face his former employers.
“I had three enjoyable seasons there,” said the former Manchester United midfielder. “The first one was interrupted with COVID, and then we had a fantastic year in my second season due to a lot of good recruitment in terms of the loan market.
“It was a little bit more frustrating my final season. I felt we dominated a lot of games of football and didn’t score, and we should have finished a lot higher up the league, but we still developed a lot of players and created a lot of good teams while we were there throughout the three years.
“I’m hoping it’s a case where all the niceties are out of the way before the start of the game, and as soon as the game starts, it is about picking up three points and making sure we can keep this momentum going.”
Charlton and Lincoln are separated by just two places in League One, although they’ve played the same number of matches (12) and have the same number of points (18). The Addicks have a better goal difference, having thrashed Reading 4-0 at the weekend.
Whilst Appleton will be in one dugout, Tom Shaw will be the temporary head coach in the home dugout. He worked with Appleton during his tenure at the LNER Stadium, but on this occasion, he’ll be joined by former Southampton assistant manager Chris Cohen, who is helping the Imps on a temporary basis until they appoint a new head coach.
Writer’s View
Michael Appleton is a divisive figure at the LNER Stadium. Some fans remember the 2020/21 season, where they topped League One for long periods and only seemed to fall away after injuries took hold of the squad. Others remember his final season, with home defeats in the FA Cup against Hartlepool and against relegated sides Gillingham and Doncaster as particular lowlights.
Appleton hopes the niceties are out of the way before kick-off, and that doesn’t seem to be a problem. Some will clap, some will boo, but when the game gets underway, nobody will care who he managed in the past.
The Addicks will be expecting a victory – they’re on a good run and look an attacking threat. Lincoln had a run of five defeats in seven before Kennedy’s departure but arrested that slide with a 1-0 win against Fleetwood at the weekend. They’ll have their work cut out if they’re to avoid defeat against their former boss, that’s for sure.
