BBC Radio Lincolnshire are reporting that Michael Skubala has been offered a new deal by Lincoln City, amidst links to Bristol City.
Michael’s current deal includes a release clause ‘north of a million pounds’, which has already been met by Bristol City. That permitted them to talk to him, and he’s now on a shortlist of two, against Bournemouth assistant Tommy Elphick.
With a decision yet to come from Ashton Gate, BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Michael Hortin is now reporting a potential new deal for Michael, on improved terms, that would make him the highest-paid manager in the club’s history.
“Ron Fowler, the Lincoln City chairman, has agreed to the club offering him a new contract, an improved contract, though he was already the best-paid manager in the club’s history, would certainly reinforce the fact that he is the best-paid manager,” Michael said on their latest Red Imps Club podcast.
There is little surprise in this. If Bristol City have indeed come in for Michael, as reported, then they’ll have a number they’ve hit. Michael would then naturally expect an improved offer from the Imps. It’s the same in any job – if you get poached by another company, you’re bound to see what your existing employers are willing to offer in order to stay.
There is also no timescale on this development. It may be that a new deal was suggested over the last week, and it is coming out now because the other news has broken, and the floodgates have opened. I’m not sure this is a knee-jerk ‘he’s in the last two, let’s get a deal out’ reaction that it might seem.
There are a few factors in play here. From our point of view, continuity as we go up to the Championship is important, but so is the ethics by which we have got here. We don’t overpay for players or gamble the club’s future on big contracts, and that must be a factor.
Also, it depends on what Michael wants from the future. If Bristol City isn’t an option once the saga resolves, he may still want to leave the door open for approaches. If so, a new deal may see a change in the release clause, making it harder for clubs to come in for Michael. It might go the other way, and see a reduction, if that were something he wished to negotiate, but that would be a finer point we’re unlikely to hear about.
One thing seems certain – the speculation is going to continue to mount until Bristol City, or Michael Skubala, makes a decision. It may be that Michael wishes to stay, being closer to home with a young family, rather than uprooting to Bristol. However, it is also fair to say that they’re a bigger club, it wouldn’t be a sideways step, and while he may get better offers, the chance to work with a friend could also be an interesting lure.
Comments Welcome!