Race for the Title...

[Luke Imp]

Hi Lincoln fans.

Someone on Deva Chat who seems quite knowledgeable and posts as, "A View From Outside", has stated that Lincoln have 'historical debts' of around £3m. I always thought that you owed the Co-op Bank £380k, which you've paid off. Is this historical debt real, myth or notional debt to directors. If I get an answer with some authority I can tell AVFO that he's wrong.

We'll find our at our AGM tomorrow night!

Last years shareholder capital in LCFC i.e. shares bought by fans over the years (probably since 2002), was just over £3m so whether that's what he means I'm not sure. In theory, everyone could sell them whenever they want but they're not going to.

Our Director loans were about £160k, £70k of which was to sort part of the Co-op debt out (£150k loan, £150k overdraft, £70k on property mortgage). I'm assuming the remaining £110k Director loan has been paid back, but that'll not show in the accounts we'll get tomorrow.

We probably do have some running 'debt' if you like, but most of that is probably depreciation of assets because we had a £4m asset base not long ago, so not a cash loss or debt. For example, our 4G pitch cost £450k, but a year later was worth about half that. That, along with everything else, will just be written off through the books over a period of time.

Lincoln City Football Club is majority owned (circa 60%) by Lincoln City Holdings, so I'm not sure we'll get the full picture since about 2014. That said, I think it's just used as a vehicle so all assets are actually in LCFC. The Trust have representation and a block vote in both companies. Basically, if you're a fan and you fancy buying a few shares for a laugh, you buy in to LCFC. If you're a serious investor or want to become a Director (£75k+), you buy into LCH. The accounts are for LCFC, not LCH.

As I say, it's our AGM tomorrow night so the accounts should be sent out soon. I'll re-visit when they land!

 

[Tranmerewhite]

When Ben Tollitt, the best winger in the league gets ruled out for the season in the same game Jack Dunn, a winger on loan from Liverpool gets injured and ruled out for the rest of the season you know you're destined for playoffs and Wembley heartbreak.

I hope Macclesfield weren't expecting to keep Connor Jennings.

 

[1884 Belmont]

See, I told you we had better players than Lincoln. Even Lady Luck and Fate decided it wasn't fair on them and decided to take not one, but two of our best attacking players away, just to make it a level playing field.
On a serious note: ARRRGH.

The fact we are so close to top spot is a testament to the squad's resilience and determination:
Lost Connor Jennings for 3 months.
Lost Andy Cook for about 2 months.
Lost Jeff Hughes for a (ridiculous) 6 game ban.
Lost Wallace for a month.
Lost Tollitt for the rest of the season.
Lost Dunn for at least 4 weeks (could be back by April).

And yet we're STILL in the title race. Ok, this makes it harder but looking back I'm incredibly proud of the lads. Hope we can get it done but this is a major blow, no doubt.

 

[FGRJC]

When Ben Tollitt, the best winger in the league gets ruled out for the season in the same game Jack Dunn, a winger on loan from Liverpool gets injured and ruled out for the rest of the season you know you're destined for playoffs and Wembley heartbreak.

I hope Macclesfield weren't expecting to keep Connor Jennings.

Maybe now big bollocks trammere fans are realising that the conference isn't an easy ride..

 

[Chris FGR]

See, I told you we had better players than Lincoln. Even Lady Luck and Fate decided it wasn't fair on them and decided to take not one, but two of our best attacking players away, just to make it a level playing field.
On a serious note: ARRRGH.

The fact we are so close to top spot is a testament to the squad's resilience and determination:
Lost Connor Jennings for 3 months.
Lost Andy Cook for about 2 months.
Lost Jeff Hughes for a (ridiculous) 6 game ban.
Lost Wallace for a month.
Lost Tollitt for the rest of the season.
Lost Dunn for at least 4 weeks (could be back by April).

And yet we're STILL in the title race. Ok, this makes it harder but looking back I'm incredibly proud of the lads. Hope we can get it done but this is a major blow, no doubt.

Yep seems you've had some bad luck with those 2 but tbf you've got a pretty strong squad, especially going forward. Cook, Norwood and Mangan are hardly mugs, you can recall Jennings and you've got funds to bring in more players if you need to. It's difficult to feel too sorry for you.

We've got literally 1 striker with any sort of experience at this level or above, and our other 2 have 1 goal between them.

 

[Sparrow]

This reminds me of the time Scott Rendell and Ismail Yakubu both suffered ACL injuries at Woking.

Barely got mentioned at the time.

 

[1884 Belmont]

Maybe now big bollocks trammere fans are realising that the conference isn't an easy ride..

That argument is about as legitimate as one of your faux burgers. I don't think any of our fans have been billy big bollocks at all, even when we first came down. I've shown a bit of belief in my team, hardly a crime. In fact, I'm struggling to think of a set of fans who are less billy big bollocks than ours!

 

[rudebwoyben]

This reminds me of the time Scott Rendell and Ismail Yakubu both suffered ACL injuries at Woking.

Barely got mentioned at the time.

Poor old Yaks gets that injury every season, it seems to me.

 

[Imp in Branston]

When Ben Tollitt, the best winger in the league gets ruled out for the season

The best winger is Nathan Arnold.

 

[CrazyImp]

No no, let Belmont have his moment. His superior team to ours with their better players have just been unlucky, obviously. Also dreadful luck to take zero points from our matches this season.

It's going to be an absolute travesty when we lift that National League title, I'm going to call the Conference board of directors the Sunday following to appeal for an enquiry.

 

[GTFCfish]

When Ben Tollitt, the best winger in the league gets ruled out for the season.

The best winger is Nathan Arnold.

Mhmm, I can see a storm brewing here.....

 

[GodsGift]

Who cares, for fuck's sake?

 

[1884 Belmont]

No no, let Belmont have his moment. His superior team to ours with their better players have just been unlucky, obviously. Also dreadful luck to take zero points from our matches this season.

It's going to be an absolute travesty when we lift that National League title, I'm going to call the Conference board of directors the Sunday following to appeal for an enquiry.

I don't do impressions, but I'd love to do a Kevin Keegan one now.

 

[EnglishRed]

The best winger is Nathan Arnold.

The best winger is Nicky Clee. For all time. The position has been retired.

 

[John Still]

Congratulations Lincoln. I said a few weeks back we had left ourselves too much to do and that our form in results was ok but not the performances. Injuries have ruined our season but we will still make play offs only another 4 or 5 wins needed. We're yet to lose against any current play off teams.

 

[Mark kavanagh]

Too many white flags being flown around the top of the table . Im still confident we can catch lincoln our hardest games are fgr,shots and dover (h) and barrow away all our other remaining games are against lower middle or bottom teams

 

[Boz]

I don't think the almost derbies with Chester and Wrexham away and Southport at home will be easy and our Welsh neighbours will be looking to trip us up on Friday.

 

[Luke Imp]

Keep saying it after every matchday but twists and turns galore yet!

We've got a toughy on Saturday, which I think we'll lose making it 3 losses in 33 or something, then Braintree away who have hit some form and only conceded 3 in their last 6.

From there, we've got 3 cup games and Tranmere 2 so I'm not sure whether FGR and Dagenham will end up playing more league games than us? I know us and Tranmere have got a couple of midweek games so maybe that evens it out.

 

[1884 Belmont]

It's on. If we beat Chester tomorrow, it's REALLY on.
The irony of the whole Tollitt/Dunn/Kirby scenario is that it's forced Micky to try a new formation to accommodate the lack of width and we look so much better with 3 at the back.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

42 points from 19 games under Mellon. That carried on gets us 94/95. Tight.

 

[1884 Belmont]

Your move Lincoln...

 

[Impish]

Worried about today to be honest Aldershot flying at the minute very tough game. Could be a season turner your two late goals last night just as our comeback at Forest Green was.
It's the Cowleys job now to take the pressure off the players and make them see it as a chance to go 5 clear and not let them have the mindset of Tranmere breathing down our necks. Definitely take a point, just can't see us winning down there, over to you Mr Cowley prove me wrong

 

[Pablosammy]

Worried about today to be honest Aldershot flying at the minute very tough game. Could be a season turner your two late goals last night just as our comeback at Forest Green was.
It's the Cowleys job now to take the pressure off the players and make them see it as a chance to go 5 clear and not let them have the mindset of Tranmere breathing down our necks. Definitely take a point, just can't see us winning down there, over to you Mr Cowley prove me wrong

No pressure, Lincoln, no pressure at all...

 

[GTFCfish]

As a neurtral fan I hope that Tranmere can at least take it to the last game to make it exciting, then any 2 to come up from Lincoln Tranmere and Macc as League 2 is way too Southern based this season so another 2 Northern teams joining would be excellent thanks.

 

[Sparrow]

There's a massive amount of pressure on Lincoln today. We'll get to see if they really are what they're made out to be.

 

[1884 Belmont]

Going on the Lincoln forum and seeing people claim they are the 'underdogs' today shows the pressure is there.

You went away and beat Premier League Burnley. I know this because nobody has shut up about it. You are the FAVOURITES today and FAVOURITES in the title race.

Over to you, and Danny Cowley, to deal with that. Anything but a win today is points dropped for a side with 2 defeats in 32. Aldershot are in great form, but Lincoln City.

 

[Andy Harrier]

Anyone else getting the feeling that the Tranmere fans are slightly rattled by Lincoln?

 

[Mark kavanagh]

Anyone else getting the feeling that the Tranmere fans are slightly rattled by Lincoln?

You stick to issues surrounding brackley boston and telford mate you can say this when you come up in may lol

 

[Andy Harrier]

You stick to issues surrounding brackley boston and telford mate you can say this when you come up in may lol

Indeed, we'll see you in the National League in August!

 

[Impish]

Going on the Lincoln forum and seeing people claim they are the 'underdogs' today shows the pressure is there.

You went away and beat Premier League Burnley. I know this because nobody has shut up about it. You are the FAVOURITES today and FAVOURITES in the title race.

Over to you, and Danny Cowley, to deal with that. Anything but a win today is points dropped for a side with 2 defeats in 32. Aldershot are in great form, but Lincoln City.

"Anything but a win today is points dropped" haha who you kidding? Yeah in literal terms but that's it. A point at Aldershot would be a great result. The 2 defeats in 32 or whatever it is means that we can afford to drop points at this stage and it not de-rail us.

We're not under the illusion that we'll win every game but nor will you so it's just about reacting and not getting into a 3/4 game winless streak at this stage because that could invite pressure and affect the players..ours detrimentally and tranmere's positively if they smell an opportunity.