Well thank God this season’s over. It has certainly been one of bitter disappointment and underachievement.
A 2-0 home defeat against Aldershot brought Lincoln City’s season to an end.
At the start of the season Peter Jackson promised that this would be a “special season” and it has been anything but special. The Imps have been dumped out of all three cup competitions in the first round and an average league campaign has seen an air of disappointment surround Sincil Bank.
The main problem has been the home form. On there travels Peter Jackson’s men have done well picking up wins at Gillingham and Dagenham but at home it has been a different story. Lincoln have picked up just four wins at home and haven’t won at home on a Saturday since October 18th! This for a team with promotion aspirations is not good enough.
The mis-firing forward line has also played a part in the Imps’ miserable season. Just one player, Adrian Patulea, got into double figures this season and this has to be sorted in the summer for a successful promotion push next season.
However, there have been some bright spots this season. Defensively, the Imps have been much more solid, with goalkeeper Rob Burch impressing in his first season at Sincil Bank. Peter Jackson has also unearthed a gem in Moses Swaibu.
Moses signed for Lincoln from non league Bromley in January and has produced a solid partnership at the heart of the City defence with Janos Kovacs. The former Crystal Palace youngster has been rewarded with a new two-year contract after his impressive start in a Lincoln shirt.
It will be an interesting close season period throughout football – especially in the lower echelons of the football league with the current financial crisis hitting clubs hard. Southampton, Stockport County and Darlington have all entered administration, clubs are tightening their purse strings and Lincoln will be no different.
Lincoln will have a better chance than many. The club will be due around £200,000 from the sale of Lee Frecklington to Peterborough who will also pay out £50,000 as part of the deal which took former manager Keith Alexander to the Championship club. The Imps are also set to net £50,000 from a clause in Scott Loach’s contract when he moved to Watford and Lincoln will also have a fee for Dany N’Guessan who is expected to depart in the summer.
Unlike many in League 2, Lincoln have an optimistic summer ahead of them and manager Peter Jackson will have money available to strengthen his side for a promotion push next season.