Danny Mandroiu turned down a new deal with the Imps this summer and has been linked with a move to Blackpool, but it looks a lot like he might be going home.
The skilful midfielder had a tough time at City, some of it through injury, and some through recklessness. His tackle against Burton Albion ended up costing Mark Kennedy his job, and at the time, Kennedy suggested Danny could either go to the Championship, or back to Ireland. I sneered at the time, but it seems Kennedy’s words had a ring of truth.
Mandroiu was spotted in the stands at the Tallaght Stadium last week, as his former side Shamrock Rovers defeated NK Celje in the UEFA Europa League. That puts them into group stage football, and has paved the way for a return to the League of Ireland for the midfielder.
Shamrock are not the only side interested – St Patrick’s Athletic are also keen, and they too currently have European football on offer – they have Istanbul Basaksehir to beat if they are to reach the group stages of the UEFA Conference League.
It seems that is a possible lure for Mandroiu, who often popped back across the Irish Sea to see his family and partner. If he does return, it will be the second time he’s come to England and ended up going home, having done the same with Brighton and Hove Albion as a youngster.
Mandroiu is undoubtedly a talent, but his time at Lincoln will be seen as mixed by some. Injuries kept him out for some of his first season, and while he always looked like a quality player, he didn’t quite have the other attributes.
He irked supporters against Shrewsbury when he came off and refused to acknowledge them, and then came the red cards against Burton and Bolton – we were drawing both games and ended up losing. At the end of the season, we missed the top six by two points.
He also slipped on the final day of the season when taking a penalty against Portsmouth, and a goal there could have given us the win we needed to stay in the top six. It wasn’t something he was at fault for, but it is something likely to be remembered by supporters.
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