April 26, 2018 6.17 pm This story is over 71 months old

Imps sign Cowleys until 2022 and plan new training ground

Danny and Nicky Cowley are here to stay.
The Cowley brothers, Danny and Nicky, left the Imps in September 2019.

Lincoln City’s managerial duo Danny and Nicky Cowley will remain with the club for another four years after signing new deals at Sincil Bank.

The Cowley brothers were originally contracted to the League Two club until the summer of 2021, but will now stay until 2022 after putting pen to paper for a further year.

The duo have done a superb job since arriving at Lincoln in the summer of 2016, leading them to the National League title last season.

Danny and Nicky then guided the club to its first trip to Wembley in 133 years where they lifted the Checkatrade Trophy with a 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury earlier this month.

Lincoln currently sit sixth in League Two after their recent 4-2 win at promotion rivals Coventry, with just one more point needed to secure a play-off place.

The Cowleys had been linked to a host of other clubs, but this new deal puts an end to any speculation and will put Lincoln in confident mood ahead of Saturday’s trip to leaders Accrington.

Danny said: “It’s been quite a long time in coming. For us it was pretty simple, it’s been an unbelievable journey in the short two years and we’ve made some fantastic strides.

“There’s an awful lot of people who’ve given a lot to us. We are family people and loyal people and when people are loyal to us we want to reciprocate.

“We feel that we are working with some wonderful people and there are loads of legs left in this journey.”

New training ground

The Imps also formally applied for planning permission for the development of a new training ground north of the city.

The new £1.3m ‘Elite Performance Centre’ will be based on a 12.3-acre site on Heath Lane near to RAF Scampton.

The new training ground will be vital in order to sustain the continued and rapid progression of the club’s current and future stars.

It will house three grass pitches, gymnasium, changing rooms and staff offices.

This is a big development for the League Two club, who are having a great season on the pitch in their first season back in the Football League.

“This will really help us on a day to day basis,” Danny said.  “With our own training ground and base, we will be able to improve the provision that we offer to our players. That will give them an even better chance to play at their best.

“You want to practice on a surface which is similar to what you play on week in, week out, like Sincil Bank.”

Talbot’s Farm & Landscapes have been appointed to oversee the development of the playing surface.

New Bostwick deal

Bostwick’s impressive on-field performances throughout the season has also seen him part of the Sky Bet League Two Team of the Year. Photo: LCFC

Meanwhile, Michael Bostwick has extended his deal with the club until the summer of 2020.

Bostwick, who joined from Peterborough United in the summer of 2017, has played 51 times since his arrival, scoring six times and being part of the defence that has kept 17 clean sheets this season.

His impressive performances throughout the season has also seen him part of the Sky Bet League Two Team of the Year.