Lincoln City’s return to the second tier of English football has naturally brought a lot of excitement, but you could argue that promotion is only half the battle.
Staying in the Championship is another matter entirely, especially in a division that’s renowned for being unforgiving. The physicality, technical ability and tactical awareness are on another level to League One, which is why recruiting players with plenty of second-tier experience is key for newly promoted sides.
That’s precisely what will have been the thinking behind the signing of Callum Elder. The 31-year-old left-back arrived on a free transfer from Derby County and has 159 Championship appearances to his name. He’s played in the second tier for Brentford, Barnsley, Ipswich Town and Hull City, and recorded 28 appearances for the Rams in the league last term. Lincoln are tipped to struggle according to sports betting online, but by making the right signings and adding experience, they can defy those odds.
Why Elder’s Experience Matters
Elder is far from being a flashy marquee signing, but that’s the point. He’s spent the last couple of seasons making close to thirty appearances in the second tier in both campaigns for Derby, with the club pushing for a playoff finish last term. He knows what it takes to compete at the level, has the know-how, and can deal with the demands. For a newly promoted side, these are invaluable credentials.
The task now for the powers that be, alongside head coaches Tom Shaw and Chris Cohen, is to find more of the same. While there are already players with Championship experience in the squad, many of them are in or approaching their mid-thirties. The likes of Sonny Bradley, Adam Reach, Tendayi Darikwa and James Collins have all campaigned at the level, but their best days are behind them.
Patience Is A Virtue
At the time of writing, the only player to have signed for Lincoln this summer is Elder. While the club are linked with other players, they’re going to have to bide their time as not only is the market competitive, it will naturally be in favour of more established second-tier outfits. What Lincoln need to do is stick to their plan, even if a sense of panic sets in. A plan can often go out of the window when the pressure is on, leading to just adding numbers for the sake of it, rather than bringing in the players you actually need, which isn’t helpful.
It’s also worth noting that while Lincoln will need plenty of Championship know-how, they’ll also need younger players who can add some energy to the team. These players are often released late by their clubs, especially if they’re with Premier League outfits. Again, patience will be needed here.
Conclusion
The 2026/27 season will be one of the most significant campaigns in Lincoln’s recent history. It’s going to be a challenge, everyone knows that, but if they can add more second-tier experience and get the balance of the playing squad right, who knows what can happen. They’ll also be a bit of an unknown quantity in the Championship, and that could be the Imps’ secret weapon.