Lincoln City Straight Back Down

[GTFCfish]

I think Lincoln will be ok in League 1, they seem to have a knack of getting results even when not playing particularly well which should hold them in good stead.

 

[Plumbob]

Sustainable within certain bounds I would imagine. You did spend quite a lot in your spell in L2 and you can't reach the quarter finals of the FA Cup and sell Sean Raggett every season, I imagine Lincoln's base spending power isn't much above most L2 clubs.

Doubt you'll go down but I imagine you'll find a level similar to that of Shrewsbury, another club of a similar size who spend very much within their means; veering between mid-table safety and real relegation scares but staying out of trouble on account of being relatively well ran.

That's how I see it, and similar to the noises coming out of the club. Need to sell and raise money to improve the budget, won't jeopardise the long term future of the club etc. Of course it could be a load of bollocks, but we appear to be run by pretty sensible business people so unlikely.
Basically, we've made the absolute best use of a cup run and a couple of player sales. Reportedly went a little over budget in January to ensure the job got done. But, to be honest, there didn't seem much risk in that gamble.

 

[Stringy]

They are a very persistent side under Cowley, easily the toughest team we faced in L2 last season. Still think they need a couple more additions (perhaps in attacking roles), but even now there are certainly at least four other clubs in L1 that look more likely for the drop.

Don't think they'll be challenging near the top, I'd expect them to finish 10th-16th.

Agree with that, watching Lincoln they always seem to be much more up for it than other teams.

I don't think Lincoln will come straight back down. I reckon they'll have a good couple of seasons but then realise they've hit a ceiling and lose momentum before eventually going back to League Two.

 

[OhGodGlovePuppet]

Just keep Jez George away from the budget and you'll be reet.

 

[Meadow]

I can't see Lincoln going down. Maybe they've reached their natural level but with the Cowleys at the helm, who knows?

 

[BlackHaddock]

Not sure what I'm doing on the League One Forum, but I'm still green with envy how well Lincoln have done recently. Good luck to them, just hope my club can emulate their success in the near future.

 

[KeithH]

Of the four promoted teams, Lincoln will be decent and might have an outside run at the playoffs (recall saying something similar about Luton last year!). MK are my tip for the mid table award of being the first team in L1 to confirm their L1 place for 2020/21. Tranmere need to replace Norwood's goals, and I'm not convinced about Mellon as manager being able to turn things around if they have a bad run - but they're on an up cycle at the moment. Bury, sadly, are in a bad place at the moment.

I can us celebrating like mad if we get a corner never mind a goal!!
"Just enjoying the ride"

 

[Davidimp]

Calling it...

If do we stay up my fishy friend it will our highest final league placing since 1985, my very early Imps days.
Shows how long we've been in doldrums.
Yes the likelihood of selling Andrade could be the key to us signing players I doubt the whole transfer budget is on that.
Apparently we're very close to signings some new faces.
We have the vast majority of the squad that won league two at the end of March, can't be that bad hey?

 

[RLC]

Of the four promoted teams, Lincoln will be decent and might have an outside run at the playoffs (recall saying something similar about Luton last year!). MK are my tip for the mid table award of being the first team in L1 to confirm their L1 place for 2020/21. Tranmere need to replace Norwood's goals, and I'm not convinced about Mellon as manager being able to turn things around if they have a bad run - but they're on an up cycle at the moment. Bury, sadly, are in a bad place at the moment.

I think it will be a tough season for us, but Mellon has actually turned things round mid-season with us before. In 2017-18 we were seventeenth just before Christmas but ultimately finished second in the National League and went up.

As for Lincoln, I think they will stay up comfortably, probably finishing in the top half.

 

[Pablosammy]

I think it will be a tough season for us, but Mellon has actually turned things round mid-season with us before. In 2017-18 we were seventeenth just before Christmas but ultimately finished second in the National League and went up.

As for Lincoln, I think they will stay up comfortably, probably finishing in the top half.

Even last season was a turnaround, we were headed for mid table mediocrity before we went on that big run. I do still think we will struggle, purely because financially we are trying to live within our means and we're still suffering from the non league seasons in that regard. Hopefully we can stay up and start to consolidate our position.

 

[Boz]

Even last season was a turnaround, we were headed for mid table mediocrity before we went on that big run. I do still think we will struggle, purely because financially we are trying to live within our means and we're still suffering from the non league seasons in that regard. Hopefully we can stay up and start to consolidate our position.

If the season started today, we’d probably finish bottom four. Replacing Norwood was always going to be a big ask and too many questions about the forward line. Also need a defensive midfielder.Generally think our primary aim is survival and with a couple more additions we should do that.

 

[Son of Cod]

Please can a modmin change this thread title to 'Lincoln City Unfortunately Staying Up'. Thanks.

 

[Plumbob]

Please can a modmin change this thread title to 'Lincoln City Unfortunately Staying Up'. Thanks.

We all make mistakes. Hope mine isn't 7/1 on a play-off push for you lot.

 

[Son of Cod]

Also would like to say that when Lincoln went up and Scunny came down I was very happy to get a real derby back. However on here, there is only one Scunny fan and he is rubbish. So what I am trying to say is that you are all idiots and I hope your fucking stupid club burns to the ground and that the Cowley sisters finally go to Ipswich but also the grass isn't always greener and there are some great Lincoln fans on here and I genuinely wish you all the best for the next season.

 

[Eastfield Posh]

Also would like to say that when Lincoln went up and Scunny came down I was very happy to get a real derby back. However on here, there is only one Scunny fan and he is rubbish. So what I am trying to say is that you are all idiots and I hope your fucking stupid club burns to the ground and that the Cowley sisters finally go to Ipswich but also the grass isn't always greener and there are some great Lincoln fans on here and I genuinely wish you all the best for the next season.

Sounds like you need to ditch the black & white stripes & get some red & white stripes instead or even go the whole hog & get a big imp & L.C.F.C tattoo on the whole of your back .

I for one am pleased we have what I call one of our original derby games back ( the other being the cobblers ) & can't see Lincoln struggling at all.

You could probably have a friendly charitable bet on who's team finished higher in their divisions , that could be a close call !

 

[Son of Cod]

Sounds like you need to ditch the black & white stripes & get some red & white stripes instead or even go the whole hog & get a big imp & L.C.F.C tattoo on the whole of your back .

Lollll absolutely not. I'm 100% fine with supporting Town. Was just trying to say fair play.

I know the actual fans (the 400 or so) that would come to BP (pre-2018) would appreciate that.

 

[T.A]

This thread makes me hope that Lincoln do really well...

 

[K-Win]

Being miles away on the south coast, I can happily say that I am Lincoln-neutral.

 

[Tangerine_tart]

I can see them doing well. Best of luck to them after all those hard years.

 

[Davidimp]

And to you guys as well now you've finally got your club away from that maniac!

 

[StrangelyBrown]

With the money they spent the last two seasons they shouldn’t be anywhere near the bottom four.

Chucked absolute coin at that squad.

You mean we spent our income from 2 exceptional cup runs and a league win and a 150% increase in season ticket sales.....yes, we invested wisely to attain promotion- you should try it

 

[Conker]

You mean we spent our income from 2 exceptional cup runs and a league win and a 150% increase in season ticket sales.....yes, we invested wisely to attain promotion- you should try it

thanks for the bite, better late than never and Lincoln have spent more than the ticket sales, and cup runs.

 

[Shrimpurh]

Would have to agree that to think that Lincoln have just spent money earned from two cup runs and an increase in ticket sales would be incredibly naive.

 

[Son of Cod]

They spent all that on Akinde alone.

 

[T.A]

They're clearly doing a Bury..

Plymouth will be after your players very soon.

 

[Conker]

Would have to agree that to think that Lincoln have just spent money earned from two cup runs and an increase in ticket sales would be incredibly naive.

Lincoln still require investment from wealthy individuals, which seems crazy considering the cup runs/ticket sales etc.

They had a genuine chance to be competitive and sustainable but went against it.

 

[Luke Imp]

We've had 'investment' over the last 3 seasons, but it's worth noting that our 'cash in hand' has always far exceeded said investment, so we're not reliant on it (yet) and thus far it's been sustainable. It's effectively sitting there waiting to be used and acting as a 'buffer'. Also worth pointing out that all investment is via share purchase. We're debt free and have no Director loans.

What the investment has also enabled us to do is aggressively build the Club infrastructure knowing we have a 'buffer' there and been able to spend quicker. Without it, I suspect we'd have been building slower and, perhaps, missed our chance. For example, would we have spent £1.5m from our cash reserves on a new training ground so quickly had we known it would wipe out a big chunk of our FA Cup £2.5m-£3m? Or would we have signed those extra 3 loan players in the second half of last season just to add numbers in case of injuries (as it turned out, those three made 3 or 4 sub appearances between them so weren't needed)?

We've also sold nearly £800k-£900k worth of players in the last 3 years and selling Andrade, if it happens, will comfortably take us over the £1m mark (transfer costs of the players we sold over that time was £50k...).

On top of that, we sold an external building(s) around SB, which raised funds.

Not to forget that despite spending more, our income has increased along side it. I've not even mentioned the commercial side, attendances and season ticket sales. It's not as if everything else has remained constant whilst spending has increased.

Going forward in L1 this is where the investment will be needed. Maybe not this season (depends what we're aiming for) but certainly to get out of this league we can't rely on self funding a promotion charge because we're hampered by Sincil Bank and you can't keep selling your best players every season to boost the budget as we have been doing.

Finally, it's also worth noting that there's the Football Club and a Holding Company. Investment in the Holding Company doesn't necessarily mean that money has gone into the Club (yet) hence the 'buffer' comments.

 

[Conker]

Do people in L1 even understand the amount Lincoln paid for Akinde? Son Of Cod is ITK and the amount he’s heard is ridiculous.

 

[Plumbob]

Do people in L1 even understand the amount Lincoln paid for Akinde? Son Of Cod is ITK and the amount he’s heard is ridiculous.

Do tell.

 

[Conker]

Do tell.

I’ll let SoC do that, but one word that nails it is ‘astronomical’