A word often used during every transfer window no matter who you support is often in regard to a specific transfer model that your club uses.
While people like to pretend that most clubs adopt different transfer strategies the basic concept of them, outside of the Premier League’s top six, is often very similar. Buy low and sell high, ultimately leading to everyone’s favourite GCSE business term of profit.
Clubs concern over this has only heightened since the tightening of profit and sustainability rules although the Imps have always been better than most when it comes to managing their finances.
This transfer window was no different despite a slow start that had fans fearing the worst, the club still reportedly made over £1 million in profit while adding nine first team players to the squad.
Pressure was put on the Imps model early in the window as Paudie O’Connor left on a free transfer.
While the side only received a compensation fee when Sean Roughan left for Huddersfield Town.
They were replaced quickly and sensibly as experienced head Sonny Bradley was brought in on a free transfer and Ryley Towler joined from Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee.
On that transfer, City’s director of football Jez George said: “We worked really hard to make this happen once we knew that he could be available.”
“We wanted to make his next move based on a footablling decision.”- Jez George
However, many fans feared the side still lacked depth notably in the left-back position with some questioning whether it was Towler’s best position.
Those fears only grew when Ethan Erhahon eventually got his move away from the LNER Stadium and joined Bolton Wanderers.
However, it was then that the model started to show its worth as clubs seemed to become more willing to spend big as the season approached.
Erhahon’s move to Wanderers brought in a reported £800,000 while the week the season began the club profited greatly as Jovon Makama joined Championship side Norwich City.
Add that to the fact the club reportedly turned down a £1 million bid for Rob Street from a fellow League One side and the club are clearly in a strong financial position with a settled squad this season.
Those sales left the Imps far from a critical position heading into the new season; a squad that head coach Michael Skubala knew needed bodies. Although one that could cope with the demands of the first six league games.
Therefore, the club worked hard behind the scenes to act calmly and cheaply as they brought in Ukraine under-21 international Ivan Varolomeev before Frankie Okoronkwo and Oscar Thorn both bolstered the attack.
They were joined by four deadline day signings as Fin Barbrook and Justin Obikwu signed on loan from Championship sides Ipswich Town and Coventry City.
At the same time, Dexter Lemibikisa signed on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Adam Reach signed a one-year deal after joining on a free transfer.
With those, the Imps now have not only a team capable of competing in the top half of the Sky Bet League One table, but also the depth to field two separate 11’s.
Jez George and the Imps seem to have built a sensible squad that gets the basics right and is capable of putting the ball in the net.
One that combined with a strong start to the season has turned fans heads from fearing a bottom half finish to now belief that they have a realistic chance of a play-off push.
More importantly they have shown that they can buy low and know when to sell to maximise profit while still maintaining a competitive side
Having lost just one game all season the side currently sit just one point outside the play-offs so can we definitively say that the Imps backroom team operate ‘the model’ better than most?