No Thanks – Lee Frecklington

Whilst we’re on the subject of Peter Jackson, let’s dip our toes into the water with a brief but angry jab at one of his transfers, shall we?

I don’t need to go into too much detail here. You know who Lee Frecklington is, where he came from and what he’s done. If you don’t, I suggest you get Googling.

From 2006 to early 2009, Freck was at the height of his powers. He’d emerged from our academy and developed into a key first team player.

In January 2008 the Imps turned down two bids for Frecklington from Peterborough, and in his programme notes around that time Jacko remarked; “I didn’t think it was the right offer or the right club for Freck, and we’re now in talks to keep him at the club because he’s a real asset for us. There’s only one or two midfielders in the division who can do what Lee does and we’ve come to expect it every game despite his age.”

The following season as his star continued to rise he seemed increasingly less likely to remain a Lincoln player. There was some surprise when he didn’t move on in the January 2009 transfer window, and even more surprised when, just six days after the window closed, he finally moved to Peterborough but on loan.

Our home-grown talisman was gone, and in a masterstroke of managerial genius, we couldn’t bring anyone in permanently to replace him. We did sign a young lad from Crewe called Michael O’Connor who did alright, but he joined Scunthorpe in the Championship once his loan spell expired.