The media is changing, and it can be difficult to separate Lincoln City fact from fiction in the fast-moving world of the transfer window.
30 years ago, a local paper was the only real source of information, and often the stories came from inside the club. Today, nothing comes out of the club at all, but we have a deluge of stories, and knowing what is right and what is wrong, can be hard.
It’s also noticeable that with far fewer resources, even some local media can’t be believed, which brings me to the story of Conor Chaplin, a work of fiction by a fake journalist.
The story is that Leicester City have beaten us to the signature of Conor Chaplin, the former Portsmouth and Ipswich Town striker. He got 15 Championship goals in 78 for Barnsley, then 13 in 44 for Ipswich in 2022/23. He appeared for them in the Premier League, but last season scored just two in 36 for Pompey. At 29, he’s still got years left, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume he might at least be on a long, long Lincoln City list.
However, three times now, I have been asked if we’ve lost out on him. Barney Stewart, sure, we had a bid in for him, that’s common knowledge. Luke Graham, I don’t know if it got to bid stage, but it feels viable. Conor Chaplin? Nothing but a ‘story’ created wholly by a fake account and repeated by reputable sources that should know better.
Today, the Leicester Mercury have suggested that the Foxes have won a race with us, but have failed to link to the source of that story. I suppose it looks better for Leicester if they’re pipping Championship sides to signings, but there is absolutely nothing to support the claim, not even an Alan Nixon or Pete O’Rourke story.
No, the story originated from a fake Twitter account, Martin C’Nwoch. You can tell he’s fake, as he’s recently confirmed Ronaldo coming back to Man Utd, he doesn’t have a LinkedIn, and the site he writes for is a broken link that doesn’t exist. I can tell that by looking at his Twitter page, and a story from a site like his should never become accepted fact in reputable media.
I report on O’Rourke and Nixon, and even I knew to leave that well alone.
I know people say it is a bit of fun, but it’s the perception. We’ve been linked with a number of players who have gone elsewhere, such as Stewart and Graham, but also Odin Bailey, Ibrahim Buhari and Eoin Kenny. Sure, I’d say we were in for a couple of those, but have all five chosen someone else over us? No. Has Chaplin? No. However, it perpetuates this myth that we’re missing out on targets as fact, when reality is different.
I’ve written this because it really irks me when something that is clearly a work of fiction is presented as fact, and that belief is cemented by lazy Chinese whispers.
Comments Welcome!