If the summer of 2026 was already set to be a period of transition for Lincoln City as they prepare for the step up to the Championship next season, Michael Skubala’s departure has only made those seas even more difficult to navigate. The onus is now on new joint head coaches, Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, to guide them through this.
Of course, there is an element of continuity, as both men formed a key part of Skubala’s backroom staff as assistant coaches. Their hasty promotion signalled that this was always likely to be the succession plan, and that at least provides some normality around the LNER Stadium.
However, it’s far from business as usual for Cohen and Shaw. The club is stepping into unfamiliar territory, having not played Championship football since 1961 – and the new bosses will have several obstacles to overcome ahead of the upcoming season.
Devising new tactics for step up to Championship
The mood around Lincoln presently is one of celebration, but there could well be a reality check when domestic football resumes in August. Prior to 2025/26, the Imps were not even regarded as promotion contenders in League One, yet they scored the second-most goals and conceded the fewest en route to a historic 103-point title win.
Nevertheless, that won’t be the case next year, as they contend with clubs who possess greater quality. Bookmakers have Lincoln as favourites for relegation, and many rival fans will be backing the Championship new boys to go down across the best betting sites in the UK recommended by Goal.com.
The club’s chances of survival will depend heavily on the system Cohen and Shaw adopt to maximise the players at their disposal. Tactical adaptation is a must for promoted teams looking to avoid the drop, and that’s no different for Lincoln.
Having a greater say in new signings
Lincoln’s summer targets are unlikely to change too much following the change in the dugout, but Cohen and Shaw will still need to step up when it comes to new signings. Their input, along with that of Jez George, will be vital to selling the club’s project to potential incomings ahead of a monumental season.
That will be even more vital considering that Lincoln are operating on a smaller budget than other second-tier teams. Reports have already linked the Imps with a move for Dundee defender Luke Graham, but with the likes of Stoke City and Portsmouth also pursuing the 22-year-old, Cohen and Shaw need to show players that Lincoln are the best option on the table.
Navigating joint head coach stigma
While Cohen and Shaw have worked together under Skubala, their working relationship is likely to change now that they are both the men in charge. They have to be completely aligned on every decision they make, as mixed messages in the Championship could be disastrous for Lincoln.
Joint head coaches are a rarity and don’t always work out – Liverpool’s experiment of having Gerard Houllier and Roy Evans as joint managers lasted just four months until the latter left Anfield in November 1998. But John Sillett and George Curtis’ FA Cup success in 1987 with Coventry City proved that it is a hierarchy which can work. Perhaps Cohen and Shaw will follow in their footsteps.