Lincoln City’s hunt for a new head coach is likely to enter a fourth week, with BBC Radio Lincolnshire suggesting that a decision will not be made before this weekend’s game against Port Vale.
The Imps dismissed Mark Kennedy on October 18th, and since then, Tom Shaw has been in temporary charge at the LNER Stadium. He took seven points from his first three matches but has since lost twice, against Oxford in the league and Morecambe in the FA Cup this weekend.
That led to calls from some supporters to see a new man in place, but in a statement to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, CEO Liam Scully has suggested that Shaw is expected to be in charge for the visit from Andy Crosby‘s Valiants this weekend. That means he will also be in the dugout for tomorrow night’s BSM Trophy game against Notts County.
There’s still no clear indication of who the favourite for the job is. Previous boss Danny Cowley is widely tipped for a return to the club, with his U-turn on the Bradford job last week seen by many as evidence he is set for a sensational return. Shamrock Rovers four-time title-winner Stephen Bradley has also been heavily linked, as has former Chelsea winger and current Shelbourne boss Damien Duff.
This weekend, Thomas Worle, former Bayern Munich Women’s manager and the current boss of SSV Ulm 1846, has also been suggested as a candidate. However, there’s no firm steer from the club on who has or has not been interviewed, and it seems supporters eager to know who will be carrying the club forward will have to wait a little longer.
The Imps are currently ninth in League One, four points outside of the top six. They exited the League Cup after a brave fight against West Ham but saw their FA Cup hopes dashed early in a tepid outing against Derek Adams’ Morecambe. They are expected to progress in the BSM Trophy, although a failure to beat Notts County tomorrow night could see them out of all cups before Remembrance Sunday, an unusual situation for them in recent seasons.
Writer’s View
The Lincoln City board were never going to make a snap appointment, and those tipping Steve Cotterill, Karl Robinson or any of the other same old names from the carousel simply didn’t know what they were talking about.
This is a progressive football club with a board that makes considered decisions for the long term. Mark Kennedy didn’t leave the club based on results, and whoever comes in has a solid platform to build upon, foundations meticulously put in place by a team of recruitment experts and coaches.
They’ll be looking for a coach with a record of working with young players, someone who fits the ethic the club already has in place. Finding the right candidate was always going to take time, so it’s no surprise they’re allowing the hunt to run a little longer.