Lincoln City have wasted no time in making preparations for next season after confirming the signings of Mustapha Carayol and Joe Anyon on Thursday.
Winger Carayol, 20, has signed a two-year contract and arrives from Torquay United, while goalkeeper Anyon, 23, also agreed a deal until 2012 after being released by Port Vale.
The arrival of the pair follows the signing of midfielder Josh O’Keefe earlier in the week. O’Keefe also signed on for two seasons at the Imps after playing a bit-part role at Walsall last season.
Because Carayol is under the age of 24 and had not been released by the Gulls, the Imps are obliged to pay compensation to Torquay. The two clubs are currently trying to agree on a fee.
Much of Carayol’s fledgling Football League career has seen him follow Paul Ince from club to club. Ince played with Carayol at Swindon Town, before bringing the Gambian to Macclesfield and then Milton Keynes Dons. After failing to hold down a regular place there, Carayol was loaned out, where a string of impressive performances at non-league level prompted Torquay to secure his signature.
Former England youth international Anyon occupied the number one shirt at Vale Park since late 2006. However, he fractured his tibia towards the end of the 2008-09 season and then found it hard to fight his way back into the Port Vale starting eleven. He was given a chance by manager Mickey Adams in the second half of last season, but did not do enough to earn a new contract at the club.
Anyon may well fill the role likely to be vacated by ‘Player of the Year’ Rob Burch who rejected a new deal earlier this week after expressing a desire to play in a higher league.
Meanwhile, forward Lenell John-Lewis has left the Imps after three years at the club. He played 81 times for Lincoln, but scored just nine goals.