Fans’ favourite Adrian Patulea has left Lincoln City F.C. to join League One side Leyton Orient.
The Romanian striker turned down the offer of a new contract at Sincil Bank at the end of last season and will link up with his new team mates on the 1st July.
Adrian Patulea had a fairytale start to his Lincoln career after waiting outside Imps manager Peter Jackson’s office to hand him his CV in the summer of last year.
He was then seen by Lincoln’s coaching staff running around the club’s training ground with his wife on his back in order to earn a trial at Sincil Bank.
Jackson granted the Romanian a trial and he was re-paid with a second half hat-trick in a pre-season friendly against Lincoln United. After weeks of negotiations with Patulea’s Romanian club, Petrolul Ploiesti, Adrian signed for an undisclosed fee.
Adrian became a firm fans’ favourite at Sincil Bank after scoring on his debut against Barnet, and scored 11 goals in 33 appearances for the Imps.
Adrian’s departure leaves Peter Jackson short in numbers up front ahead of the new season. The Imps suffered in front of goal last season and released strikers Geoff Horsfield, Ben Wright and Gary King.
Having brought in Chris Fagan and Jamie Clarke it remains to be seen whether Jackson will bring in another striker or put his faith in highly rated youngsters Nathan Adams and Andrew Hutchinson.
Patulea follows Dany N’Guessan, Sam Mullarkey and Lee Beevers in rejecting new contracts from Lincoln.