Charley Kendall scores goals – that was the shout two years ago as the former QPR striker came and went in one day.
Two years later, his goals tally for the Imps stands at one, a solitary strike in the League Cup against Doncaster. He does have friendly goals to his name against Gainsborough, Eastbourne, and Boston, but he will add no more. It has been confirmed he has been recalled from his Dagenham loan spell and will join National League strugglers Woking for an undisclosed fee, with us having a future interest in any move.
Kendall started two matches for the Imps, both in the League Cup, and appeared three times in League One, which means he lamost has as many Imps outings as he has had loan moves. After Eastbourne, he came back to the Imps and was sent to Sutton United. That move was tough; he struggled for game time and didn’t score; a year ago, he was recalled and sent to Bromley.
That was another tough loan – he scored once in 11 games but came back over the summer seemingly a fair way from the first team. After his goal against Boston in the summer, he was sent on loan once more, this time to Dagenham. He’s been better there – three goals and two assists in the first half of the season, but it’s clearly not been enough to convince the club he has a future in the Football League.
City’s director of football, Jez George, said: “This is a good opportunity for Charley to find a permanent home and do what he wants to do: play games and score goals. With the emergence of Freddie Draper and Jovon Makama over the past 12 months, it is the right solution for all parties, and the transfer agreement enables us to maintain a future interest in Charley.
“He’s a great lad, who we all really want to do well and fulfil his ambitions in professional football. Even though that will now be away from Lincoln, he leaves with everyone’s best wishes.”
I don’t think there’s any doubt that the move hasn’t worked out here for Charley. I’m sure some will say he wasn’t given a chance, but loans are chances. If you go out on loan and do well, you get yourself a chance. Look at Freddie Draper and Sean Roughan – both had good loan spells and have been given a chance.
Woking will get the best out of Charley if they play him in a two, with a big man, like Matt Rhead or Jason Lee, of whom he can feed on bits and pieces. He’s got an eye for goal, but at present, there’s little evidence that is as a Football League striker.
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