Lincoln City Player of the Season Discussion – My Four Candidates

As the season begins to wind down, the conversation around City’s Player of the Season is heating up.

It’s been a campaign dogged by inconsistency, injuries, and unexpected breakouts. We’ve had highs, such as the double over Mansfield and the thrashing of Posh, and lows, such as away at Crawley and Barnsley — all of which make picking one standout performer that little bit more difficult.

Before we dive into the top candidates, let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way — Ethan Erhahon. Had things gone differently, this could’ve been a very different article. There’s no doubt Ethan is a cut above at this level, and before injury struck, he was one of the most consistent and effective players in the squad. However, with just 25 league starts — and meaning he won’t hit 30 by season’s end — it’s hard to justify handing him the accolade.

Add in that moment at Bolton — two yellow cards for dissent in the space of 30 seconds, one after the half-time whistle — and it’s fair to say his season ended on a frustrating note. Moments like that stick in fans’ minds, and while talent is key, discipline and availability play their part too. For those reasons, he’s not on my shortlist.

Paudie O’Connor

If you look at his contribution on paper — three goals, four assists, and 3,500+ League One minutes — Paudie should be a leading contender. But three suspensions, including two reds (one for a needless kick-out), make it tough to hand him the crown. The Stevenage red might’ve been harsh, but the most recent one? That looked like frustration boiling over.

And let’s be honest, when you’re captain, a leader, and the face of the backline, you can’t afford those lapses. Not if you want to be Player of the Season. There’s no ill will towards Paudie given his contract situation — if he’s off in the summer, he goes with respect. Had he reached 40-odd outings, there’s no doubt I’d have had him top of the list.

But three suspensions in one season is a red flag. Two? Maybe forgivable. Three? That’s pushing it.

Bronze: Jovon Makama

I can already hear the groans — “How can you pick Jovan?” Gav, who sits near me, will probably have stopped reading.

Here’s why.

This has been a breakout season for Makama. Across all competitions, he’s chalked up 11 goals and six assists — 17 goal involvements in total. And while he hasn’t always been consistent, he’s shown real growth. He’s switched roles, led the line, played wide, and continued to perform — all under a cloud of intense, often unwarranted, criticism.

Let’s put this into perspective: Brennan Johnson, hailed as one of our best loanees ever, got 11 goals and five assists in his 2020/21 season. Jovan has outperformed that, and yet some fans still aren’t having him. It’s baffling. He’s taken the abuse, silenced it with his football, and even had to celebrate with fingers in his ears to block out the noise.

Makama deserves massive credit, and for that, he gets my nod as a candidate for POTS. We’ll use Bronze to go hand-in-hand with Imptoons’ system.

Silver: Sean Roughan

I obviously mean gold here, but I’m letting judgment go first and my gut feeling come second.

Still, it’s hard to ignore just how good Sean Roughan has been this season. More minutes than anyone else in the squad — 4,157 and counting — and a mainstay in what’s been a very good defensive unit. Whether he’s at left-back or left-sided centre-back, Roughan’s composure, consistency and commitment have shone through.

He’s not flashy. He’s not all-action. But he’s reliable, intelligent, and has matured into a potential leader without anyone really noticing. The only thing keeping him from gold is his limited goal contributions — just one goal and two assists in the league. But let’s be fair: he’s not always in advanced positions like a wing-back would be.

What he lacks in flair, he more than makes up for in attitude. He’s a no-nonsense, focused player who’s been through a lot — loan spells, being frozen out — and he’s emerged from all of it stronger. He’s still only 22 and pushing toward 150 appearances, if he stays. Frankly, I’m baffled why some fans still give him stick.

Gold: Tendayi Darikwa

And finally, my pick for Player of the Season (that’s not Sean Roughan) — Tendayi Darikwa.

When he signed, eyebrows were raised. A 32-year-old coming from seeming exile in Cyprus? Surely not the long-term answer at right wing-back. But he’s blown those doubts away with sheer consistency, leadership, and influence both on and off the pitch.

Darikwa has made 40 starts this season, playing 3,770 minutes — more than O’Connor. He’s chipped in with five goals and three assists, offering a genuine threat down the right. And crucially, he’s done it all with minimal fuss, real composure, and strong character.

From what I’ve heard, he’s also been key behind the scenes — mentoring younger players like Jovan and setting standards across the squad. That kind of influence is hard to measure, but it matters. You can see it in how steady our defence has looked.

And let’s not forget — he’s made us forget about Lasse Sorensen. When was the last time you heard someone pine for Lasse? That’s not to dig at Lasse — he was great — but Darikwa’s filled that void and then some.

He’s versatile, experienced, and calm under pressure. The own goal at Wrexham was unfortunate, but beyond that, there’s little to criticise. He’s done exactly what we needed him to do — and more. And like Regan Poole two seasons ago, he’s been the ever-present figure in a defence that’s held strong when others have faltered.

Conclusion

It says a lot that three of my four candidates are defenders. That tells you where the strength of this Lincoln City team lies — not just in solid structure, but in individuals who’ve stepped up time and time again.

Remember, these are my picks, but the player ratings you give every week will go towards picking the ultimate winner for the site.

However, for me, it’s:

🥇 Tendayi Darikwa
🥈 Sean Roughan
🥉 Jovon Makama

I’d love to hear who you’re backing — and why. Maybe you think Paudie’s suspensions shouldn’t count against him. Maybe you’re still flying the flag for Ethan despite the red mist and injury layoff. That’s the beauty of this kind of debate.

What matters is that we’ve had a handful of players step up in a challenging year. And however the votes fall, these lads deserve credit for the seasons they’ve had.

Let the debate begin.