2023

Darrell Clarke, Port Vale – 17 April 2023

Darrell Clarke had plenty of reason to lament David Rock’s performance when Vale visited Sincil Bank in April 2023. Tom Conlon was sent off, a decision subsequently overturned, and the Imps won 3-2. Two days later, on 17 April, Clarke was sacked after a run of two wins in 18 games.

Steve Cotterill, Shrewsbury Town – 6 June 2023

Steve Cotterill’s final match as Shrewsbury manager was our 1-0 win at Sincil Bank on 7 May 2023, with Matty Virtue scoring the only goal. Salop finished 12th in League One, despite ending the campaign with just one win in their last ten matches. Cotterill’s departure was confirmed on 6 June, 30 days after that final-day defeat.

Like Nigel Clough, this one comes with a gap between the final match and the announcement, but Lincoln were his last opponents. Cotterill resigned rather than being sacked, and there were no intervening fixtures, so he joins the list of managers whose final game in charge came against the Imps.

Mark Bonner, Cambridge United – 29 November 2023

Mark Bonner lost his job as Cambridge boss the day after the Imps’ 3-0 win at the Abbey Stadium on 28 November 2023. He was the second Cambridge manager in this list to leave after a game against the Imps at the Abbey Stadium, and the second manager to lose his job after playing against Lincoln in a game officiated by David Rock. Perhaps the referee is the curse!