September 13, 2019 4.52 pm This story is over 53 months old

No contact from Imps, according to manager hotly tipped for Lincoln hotseat

Who would you like to see get the job?

Newport manager Michael Flynn insists he has had no contact from Lincoln City after being quizzed over the vacant managerial position at Sincil Bank.

Lincoln City have already begun the process of appointing a manager after much-loved duo Danny and Nicky Cowley agreed to join Championship side Huddersfield earlier this week. In an open letter to Imps fans they said it was “without doubt, the hardest decision of [their] lives”.

Flynn and Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth, who previously played for the Imps, are among the favourites to replace the Cowley brothers.

Flynn led the Exiles to the League Two Play-off Final last season, which they lost 1-0 against Tranmere at Wembley.

The job he has done in South Wales has not gone unnoticed and according to Sky Bet he is the 1/4 favourite, at the time of writing, to become the next manager of Lincoln in League One.

When he spoke to the media ahead of Newport’s trip to Northampton on Saturday, Flynn was asked if Lincoln had made an approach for him.

He said: “As far as I know, no. All I’m concentrating on is Northampton.

“It’s always flattering (to be linked with other jobs) and it does show that you’re doing things right.

“I’ve sat here many times and just got on with what I needed to do. I think I’ve always been professional in the way I’ve handled it, and it has never affected the players.

“You’ve got to do things right, and until I’m told anything different, I’ll be doing my best for Newport County.”

Sky Bet’s second favourite for the job at 4/1 is Ainsworth, who previously made over 80 appearances for the Imps between 1995-97.

Ainsworth appeared to show interest in the job when he recently told The Totally Football League Show: “I’m really happy at Wycombe, they’ve been so good to me, but of course, I’m ambitious.

“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. What the Cowleys have built in their time there – it’s just awesome.

“I’m open to everything. Wycombe have this potential. I’m really hoping that the fans understand that, unfortunately, money is needed in football and to progress, especially to the next level. It’s going to take some serious investment.

“We have people willing to put their money in. The fans love owning their own club [Wycombe are currently owned by the supporters’ trust] and I understand that as well. But the ambition for me is to get into that Championship one way or the other.”

Craig Denton (9/1) and Ian Culverhouse (14/1) are next on a long list of names of potential candidates.

Now that the Cowleys have moved on, Jamie 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.

McCombe said at Lincoln’s press conference on Thursday that he is determined to get the Lincoln City players through what has been a tough week and his sole focus is preparing them for Saturday’s home match against Bristol Rovers.

Meanwhile, the Cowley’s first game in charge of Huddersfield will be a Yorkshire derby clash against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.


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