Lincoln City are currently getting ‘further down the line’ with new recruits, as revealed to the Stacey West by sporting director Jez George this morning.
The Imps will take 22 to Grimsby Town this evening, and that is likely to include the likes of Charlie Parks and Donald Inyama. While that might feel like we’re threadbare, a matchday squad is 18, something we could comfortably put out tomorrow and look relatively strong.
Even so, with 22 needed this weekend for trips to Barnsley and Doncaster, fans might be getting a little twitchy about the transfer situation, even with more than a fortnight left until the big kick-off.
However, this morning, Jez has sought to allay those fears as he spoke to us to outline the very latest transfer
“I can understand the supporters wanting to see more arrivals, but rest assured we’re working really hard behind the scenes,” Jez said.
“It’s important that we understand we’re recruiting for 46 games in the Championship and not a pre-season friendly at Grimsby, Doncaster or Barnsley.”
“We’ve always said you can only spend it once. The stakes are higher at the level we’re going into. The deals are more complicated to get over the line and, therefore, we do need patience and persistence.”
The Imps have already signed Andrei Coubis and Callum Elder, while Josh Honohan returning to action will feel like a new signing. That’s three defensive players, while a keeper is also expected soon, but fans and staff know we need additions at the top end of the field.
That’s something the recruitment team are working on right now, and a couple are getting closer, even if they’re not expected ahead of the weekend’s friendlies.
“We’re getting further down the line with two or three,” added Jez. “That’s both permanent signings and loan signings.”
Of course, the transfer market is very different for Lincoln City this summer. We have raided the free agent list, but there is also a desire to push the boundaries of our transfer record, as seen with Andrei. We need to convince players we’re the right place to come, and then convince unwilling selling clubs to part with their assets.
It’s not easy, but as Jez explains, if it was, we’d be doing something wrong.
“We’re in positions where we’re negotiating with clubs,” he said. “If you’re negotiating with a club and it’s easy, you’ve probably not got the right target.”
The pressure for the players comes in 18 days time, when we step out at the Riverside. The pressure for Jez and the recruitment team is right now, as they travel the country, perhaps even the world, looking for the talent to enhance the team and give us a real chance at consolidating in the second tier.
“We’re trying to enhance the squad,” finished Jez. “We’ve always said we’re trying to enhance the squad and add to the brilliant base of the squad that we’ve got. To do that at the level we’re going into is really, really difficult.
“We’ve got to get it right, and we’re aware of that. Our job is to be ready for 46 league games and not Grimsby in July.”
This evening, we’re likely to see Donald and Charlie, as well as the regular first team faces, but come August 15th in the north east of England, it does feel like we might see a slightly different Lincoln City, all being well.
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