Four players released by Lincoln City at the end of the 2024/25 season have now found new clubs.
That’s not a huge surprise, especially given the level we finished at last season. Players dropping into League Two or the National League from a top-end League One side are often seen as coups—and it’s likely that all four of these moves will have been greeted with enthusiasm by the fans on the receiving end.
Sam Clucas: Shrewsbury Town
Let’s start with Sam Clucas. His short stint at the Bank was the subject of far more debate than it ever needed to be. He showed flashes of quality, but never nailed down a regular run of games, and at 34, his time here came and went with little impact.
He’s now joined Shrewsbury Town, and under Michael Appleton—who’s no stranger to bringing in experienced heads—it makes a lot of sense. Look at how Appleton created a side around Liam Bridcutt, for example.
Appleton’s preference for technical, possession-based football is well suited to Clucas’ game, so it’s likely to be a decent fit. We’ve covered this one before, so no need to rehash the full discussion here, but suffice it to say, Shrewsbury will view this as a statement signing.
Ali Smith: AFC Wimbledon
Next up, Ali Smith. A regular early in the season under Mark Kennedy, Smith featured heavily before fading from view entirely after Michael Skubala’s arrival. Whether it was a personality clash, tactical shift, or something else entirely, his exit from the first-team picture was abrupt. He went on loan to Colchester, then to Wimbledon, where he impressed during their promotion campaign.
It’s believed he turned down a permanent move initially, weighing up his options. If so, fair play to him—he clearly made the right call. He played a vital role in their run to League One and now signs permanently for a side where he’s already proven himself. That kind of continuity is invaluable.
It’s reminiscent of when we turned TJ Eyoma’s loan into a full move back in 2020–21—it felt like a coup, and Wimbledon will feel the same now. He’s a League One player again, and while I’ve been critical of him in the past, he’s earned another crack at this level.
Jay Benn: Hartlepool United
Another departure to find a new home is Jay Benn. A project player when signed, he followed the usual path—loan spells to assess his progress. He impressed at Solihull Moors, playing a key part in their play-off push and FA Trophy run, but failed to make a similar impact at Bradford City last season. After starting well, he fell out of the side and drifted from view in the second half of the campaign.
Still, Hartlepool United have picked him up, and while they’re in a tricky situation off the pitch—with their takeover still unratified and Raj Singh clinging on—they’ve brought in Simon Grayson to lead the team. Grayson’s CV spans Sunderland, Leeds, Preston and Fleetwood… as well as, more recently, a Nepal Super League win.
That aside, he’s experienced and organised, and Benn will get a real opportunity to settle in. It’s a smart signing for a club that needs structure and hunger. Solihull fans rated him highly, and if he can recapture that form, Pools may have landed a bargain.
Tyler Walker – Barrow
This is a move that will be spectacularly bad, or unmitigatingly brilliant, no in between. Think about it – a fully fit Tyler Walker in League Two. Unbelievable. In fact, the only thing more unbelievable than that is a fully fit Tyler Walker.
Therein lies the issue. If Walker were fit, he’d still be with us. If he’d been fit for the last three years, he probably wouldn’t have been available to us when he left Coventry. Sadly, he hasn’t been, and Barrow have rolled the dice on bringing him in.
I hope it works. I hope he bags 20 goals next season as Barrow push up the table. Tyler always struck me as a decent guy, and he’s been so desperately unlucky. His career has been sunk through injuries – his spell with us and Mansfield marked him out as a possible star, but that never happened.
If he stays fit, this is a genius signing for Barrow.
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