Former Premier League striker Dean Ashton believes Lincoln City can avoid relegation this season with clever recruitment over the summer.
Ashton, who was promoted to the Championship with Crewe twice, believes experience is going to be key. The 42-year-old spoke exclusively to us about City’s chances, having secured promotion to the second tier for the first time since 1961, and outlined exactly what might be needed to ensure survival next season.
“The big one is experience,” said Ashton, speaking to The Stacey West courtesy of BetGoodwin.
“It’s important for Lincoln to go and get at least a couple of players who have played in the Championship before, getting players who understand the league, the demands of the Championship and what it takes to play week in week out in such a competitive division.”
Of course, that doesn’t come cheap, and Ashton insists there may need to be money spent in order to complete the squad that has earned us promotion.
“Naturally, they will need to spend money; they will need a deeper squad of higher quality. But it may only take a couple of really experienced players who can complement the current top group they have.”
Ashton speaks from experience. He was a prolific striker for Crewe and later Norwich, but his time with the Railwaymen gives him good insight into what is needed from a squad stepping up a division.
“From my experience, we got promoted to the Championship with Crewe, and experience was the difference. Players who knew the league could help those youngsters who hadn’t played in it before, it was very useful as it gave us confidence going out to play.”
“That is what Lincoln will need to do in order to survive. They have confidence, they’ve had a brilliant League One campaign, they deserve to be where they are, so they will not fear anyone, but experience will be lacking.”
We do have Championship experience: Sonny Bradley, Tendayi Darikwa and James Collins all have exposure at that level, while Adam Reach ranks 33rd in the all-time Championship appearance table.
The key for the Imps will be survival, and if we were offered 21st next season, we’d take it now and enjoy the ride. Staying up won’t be easy, as arguably the smallest club in the division, but Ashton insists it is possible.
“The Championship is so competitive, the teams coming down from the Premier League, the teams who will have parachute payments still available, plus other teams who will look to invest in their squad and push for promotion, like Norwich as an example, who finished the season well.
“So Lincoln will be looking to avoid relegation, and it’s possible with some experienced Championship players.”
The Imps will certainly have their work cut out stepping up a division, but there shouldn’t be anything to fear after a record-breaking 2025/26. Clever recruitment is the key, as it always has been, and as our track record is good, we should give ourselves every chance of progression.
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