Lincoln City’s Director of Football, Jez George, has revealed that the club turned down two serious transfer bids on deadline day, emphasising their commitment to retaining key players for the remainder of the season.
Club Stands Firm on Transfer Approach
George confirmed that while Lincoln had hoped to make an addition, no deals materialised. However, the Imps were equally resolute in rejecting offers for two players, refusing to sell unless the bids met the club’s valuation.
“We’ve turned down two offers today for two different players—two really serious offers,” said George. “That’s great credit to the board for backing the club, backing Michael, and backing the fact that we want to keep fighting this season. We don’t want to signal to our supporters that the season’s over.
“We know it’s going to be hard to do what we want to do, but we want to keep chasing, keep fighting, and we want everybody to be with us. So, great credit to the board that we have not sold our players for anything other than the value we have for them.”
While George did not name the players involved, it is widely known that defender Paudie O’Connor and midfielder Ethan Erhahon have attracted interest. O’Connor, whose contract expires this summer, could leave for free, but the club opted to retain him in their push for success this season.
Lincoln Determined to Dictate Sales on Their Terms
George reiterated Lincoln’s stance that no player will leave unless the club’s valuation is met, ensuring they are not pressured into last-minute sales.
“We’re doing our absolute best to ensure no one leaves the football club unless it’s absolutely at our value,” he said. “We want to make sure that people never see us as a club they can come to in the last 10 minutes of a window and put a gun to our heads.”
One of the major challenges for Lincoln is the financial disparity in League One. The club operates within a strict budget and cannot compete with the high wages or multimillion-pound transfer fees some rivals offer.
“We might not be able to pay the wages others can—and probably don’t want to, to be perfectly honest—and we certainly can’t do the eye-watering transfer fees, like £2.5 million, which is just insane in this league,” George admitted.
Writer’s View
Lincoln City’s refusal to sell key players on deadline day highlights a club determined to strike the right balance between financial prudence and on-pitch ambition. While some fans may have concerns about losing O’Connor for nothing in the summer, the decision to keep him signals intent for the remainder of the campaign. In an era where lower-league clubs often feel forced into sales, Lincoln’s approach ensures they remain in control of their own transfer dealings.
