Imps caretaker boss taking it ‘one day at a time’

Lincoln’s caretaker manager Jamie McCombe said he is taking the job one day at a time and is currently focusing on preparing his players for Tuesday’s trip to Rochdale.

McCombe’s first match in charge, and the Imps’ first without the Cowley brothers at the helm, ended in a 1-0 home defeat against Bristol Rovers on Saturday. The Imps sit seventh in League One ahead of the trip to Rochdale, who were hammered 6-0 at Peterborough in their last match.

McCombe and Andy Warrington are currently in charge of first team affairs at Lincoln with support from Jez George, the club’s Head of Football.

In a press conference on Monday, McCombe said: “I’m just focusing on the job in hand. The task I’ve been given is to prepare the players the very best they can be for the game, so that’s what the sole focus has been on.

“I’m doing the job I’ve been asked to do. I’m in regular dialogue with Liam Scully and Jez George and as far as I’m aware I’m taking the game on Tuesday and we’re going to take it one day at a time.”

Lincoln have lost six of their last seven matches in all competitions, but McCombe still firmly believes in the club.

He added: “We still believe in what we’re doing, we still believe in the process, we still prepare exactly same way as we always have.”

“It’s hard work, but I’m not scared of a challenge and ultimately the job I’ve been asked to do by the football club is one that I feel very passionate about.”

Manager latest

At the time of writing, Sky Bet had suspended betting on the possibility of Newport manager Michael Flynn getting the job at Sincil Bank.

Flynn previously insisted he has had no contact from the Imps after being quizzed last week over Lincoln’s vacant managerial position. However, according to Mail Online it is understood he has now been interviewed for the job.

Wycombe boss and former Imps’ player Gareth Ainsworth is 5/2 to get the job. According to Mail Online he turned down Lincoln’s initial offer to take over.

He was reportedly given a formal offer to take the job over the weekend, but rejected it after failing to agree terms. It is understood Lincoln have since entered fresh talks with him, although this has not been confirmed.

Ainsworth previously said he was happy at Wycombe, but also acknowledged to The Totally Football Show that “I want a club that has ambitions to play in the Championship, to be as high as they possibly can. I know Lincoln City have got that ambition.”

Michael Appleton and Phil Parkinson are 6/1 and 12/1 respectively to get the job according to Sky Bet, while Exeter’s Matt Taylor has now appeared among the list of candidates at 14/1.

Exeter confirmed on Monday that Taylor has turned down an approach from an unnamed club to speak with him. Although the club is unnamed there is some suggestion in the media that it was Lincoln.

Meanwhile, Danny and Nicky Cowley endured a tough start to life is the managerial hotseat at Huddersfield after their first match in charge ended in a 2-0 home defeat against Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday.