It’s every football fan’s least favourite time of the year – the purgatory of the off-season. At Lincoln City there have been big changes with a new manager at the helm, so we took a look at where the squad can be improved ahead of the new campaign.
Lincoln City entered a new era following the conclusion of the 2021/22 League One season. Now-former manager Michael Appleton left his role after steering the Imps clear of relegation and guaranteeing a fourth successive season in the third tier.
His replacement is Mark Kennedy, the former Irish international with limited management experience at senior level, but an impressive pedigree in youth level coaching.
Mark Kennedy, Lincoln City manager. | Photo: Chris Vaughan / Lincoln City
Kennedy signed pen to paper on a four-year contract in May, and will be tasked with continuing the wonderful work of his predecessors – but with key players leaving, who might he turn to in the transfer market this summer?
The Lincolnite has taken a look at the contracted first team players for next season and put them into position order, to see which areas need strengthening for 2022/23.
Goalkeepers
Jordan Wright has made a host of acrobatic saves since joining the Imps. | Photo: Lincoln City FC / Chud Photography
The goalkeeper position is a curious one for the Imps. Jordan Wright put in a series of impressive performances upon his arrival in January, and Sam Long is an academy prospect with high hopes.
Despite having two talented keepers, there are reports that the Imps are closing in on a move to sign goalkeeper Lee Burge from Sunderland – perhaps as a more experienced option to the younger players currently at the club.
An experienced goalkeeper on a free transfer may not be terrible business for Lincoln, giving the club a chance to send Sam Long out on loan to perhaps a League Two or National League club in the next stage of his development.
Centre backs
Lincoln City will be hoping Joe Walsh can stay fit. | Photo: LCFC
With Lewis Montsma out until around Christmas, and Adam Jackson and Joe Walsh notoriously struggling to keep fit on a consistent basis, this may well be the priority position in the transfer window this summer for the Imps.
TJ Eyoma is a player with massive potential and he has shown on plenty of occasions that he has the ability to stand out in a Lincoln City defence, while youth prospects Sean Roughan and Hayden Cann could also play a role next season.
The sensible decision would be to slowly integrate Roughan into the first team, send Cann out on loan and sign one or two defenders in case of an injury disaster similar to last season – which we have seen is entirely possible with this team.
Full backs
Named player of the year by fans, his teammates and the club, it has been a wonderful season for Regan Poole. | Photo: Chris Vaughan for Lincoln City FC
As left backs go, Lincoln are sorted. Cohen Bramall offers electric pace and an attacking threat, while Jamie Robson is a more rounded defender – but both are more than ready for a starting eleven spot.
At right back you have Lincoln City’s player of the year Regan Poole, though he could end up slotting in as a right sided centre half in a back three, should Mark Kennedy opt for that system. TJ Eyoma is also an option, though his natural place is at the heart of defence.
I feel a right back either on loan or as a shrewd purchase is a necessity this summer, so as not to put too much reliance on the brilliant Poole, particularly over the course of a long season.
Centre midfield
Ted Bishop on the ball. | Photo: Lincoln City FC
Lincoln City’s engine room has taken a big hit for next season, with Conor McGrandles announcing his intention to leave and club captain Liam Bridcutt yet to agree to a new contract at the Imps.
The club do still have Lasse Sorensen, Max Sanders and Ted Bishop on the books, along with academy graduates Oisin Gallagher, Elicha Ahui and Morgan Worsfold-Gregg – but you can’t help but feel more is needed.
A strong, combative anchoring midfielder is surely high up on the shopping list this summer, as well as a creative spark in the middle to replicate the play of Jorge Grant and Lewis Fiorini in recent seasons. I would expect Gallagher, Ahui and Worsfold-Gregg to depart on loan.
Wingers
Chris Maguire holding off a challenge during a resilient Bowers & Pitsea performance in last season’s FA Cup. | Photo: Lincoln City FC
At the peak of the Michael Appleton era, his two wide players were arguably the most important players in the team, but we have no idea what formation or setup Mark Kennedy will opt for.
Should he decide to play with wingers, perhaps in a 433 or 4231 system, the Imps have last season’s top scorer Anthony Scully, experienced Scot Chris Maguire, the tricky Hakeeb Adelakun and returning loanee Theo Archibald to choose from.
We could end up seeing an improved version of the likes of Maguire and Adelakun next season, but I do think that an exciting young winger on loan would be a smart move by the club.
Strikers
Lincoln City forward Ben House during his exclusive interview with The Lincolnite earlier this year. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Mark Kennedy has a lot of work to do with the Lincoln City squad over the summer, but one position that shouldn’t give him too many headaches is up front.
With the ever-reliable Tom Hopper at his disposal, along with young talents Ben House and Charley Kendall, both from non-league, the Imps manager will have plenty of options for strikers next season.
Add onto that the excitement around academy prospects Freddie Draper and Jovon Makama, and I would suggest that a new striker may not be walking through the door this summer at the LNER Stadium – despite the loss of John Marquis.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
A Lincolnshire man who lent his car to a major heroin dealer so he could source drugs for his then partner was given a suspended jail sentence.
Kevin Hislop, 43, was described as having a “limited role” in a larger conspiracy to supply heroin to the streets of Skegness.
Under cover police officers carried out test purchases of the Class A drug over several months in the Summer of 2017 in a special investigation codenamed “Operation Hazelbrook.”
Hislop admitted driving Paul Steven Wilkinson, 41, who was described as the “head of operation”, on two occasions and lending him his car for nine trips.
Lincoln Crown Court heard a total of 33 trips to ferry drugs were made from Leicester to the seaside town.
Six other people were also jailed for a total of over 21 years for their roles in the conspiracy.
Hislop, of West End, Spilsby, had been due to stand trial in July 2019 but his case was halted and then delayed because of the Covid pandemic.
When his case was re-listed following the pandemic Hislop admitted a charge of drugs conspiracy.
The court heard Hislop had admitted driving Wilkinson to Leicester on one occasion to collect some clothes when he was interviewed by police.
Almas Ben-Aribia, prosecuting, said that was in fact a lie, with Hislop making two trips with Wilkinson.
Miss Ben-Aribia added that the car in which the trips were made was registered in the name of Hislop’s then partner.
Michael Cranmer-Brown, mitigating, said Hislop had only got involved because he was concerned for his then partner.
“It is is quite unusual, but this man’s motivation was not to get drugs for himself, but to source them for his partner,” Mr Cranmer-Brown explained.
“He was concerned that she was rattling.”
Mr Cranmer-Brown said Hislop was now in a new relationship and was a hard working man.
“His employers are aware of these proceedings, he works for an engineering company,” Mr Cranmer-Brown added.
Passing sentence Judge John Pini QC told Hislop he could avoid sending him straight to jail because of his limited role in the conspiracy and his lack of other convictions.
Judge Pini said: “The conspiracy for which I have to sentence you goes back some five years.”
Hislop was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment suspended for two years, and must also complete 180 hours of community punishment.
A widow whose husband died from sepsis after eating duck eggs purchased from a stall at a North Lincolnshire show is warning others of the dangers of the life-threatening condition.
Niptoon Tavakoli, 65, made three 999 calls in 85 minutes complaining of sickness and diarrhoea. During two of the calls he told call handlers “I need help very quick” and “I’m in trouble,” an ambulance investigation said.
When an ambulance crew arrived at his house in Lindholme, Doncaster, a paramedic believed he had gastroenteritis and so didn’t take him to hospital to prevent a sickness outbreak, the report found.
Niptoon had fallen ill after eating the six duck eggs he bought at a village show days earlier. He was displaying ‘amber’ signs of sepsis which sees the body attack itself in response to an infection.
Three days later his wife Cheryl dialled 999. Niptoon was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with salmonella. However, his condition continued to deteriorate. He died in hospital two months later, aged 65, from multiple organ failure.
Following Niptoon’s death Cheryl, 63, instructed specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her husband’s illness and the care he received from Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS).
An inquest jury concluded Niptoon died of natural causes.
YAS admitted liability for Niptoon’s death. A serious incident report by the Trust found “it would have been appropriate” to take Niptoon to hospital when the crew first visited him at home.
Niptoon Tavakoli sadly died at the age of 65.
Cheryl has now joined her legal team at Irwin Mitchell in calling for lessons to be learned following the death of Niptoon, who was also a stepfather to Andrew and Paul.
She said: “It’s almost impossible to find the words to describe the impact Niptoon’s death has had on our family. He was such a caring and fun person who loved spending time with his family and friends but also antique hunting and collecting coins.
“The last three years and trying to come to terms with what happened has taken a toll on all of us. Trying to grieve has been made all the harder because of having so many unanswered concerns.
“While nothing can bring him back we take some small comfort from at least being able to honour his memory by now establishing the answers Niptoon deserved.
“However, we feel we need to speak out to raise awareness of the dangers of not only salmonella but sepsis. People have probably heard of sepsis but I’m not sure everyone is fully aware of how dangerous it is.
“Niptoon had worked in the catering business for years so knew the importance of good hygiene, safety standards and knew how to cook duck eggs.
“That he contracted salmonella even with his knowledge shows that others could fall ill after eating them. We just want to try and make people aware as we wouldn’t want another family to go through what we have.”
Niptoon worked in the catering industry and retail management for many years. He bought six ducks eggs at Messingham Show in Lincolnshire on 2 June, 2019. He later cooked and ate four of them.
Five days later he complained of sickness and diarrhoea. The Ambulance Service report said that Niptoon initially dialled the NHS 111 helpline at around 12.25pm and a call handler recommended he phoned his GP surgery.
Niptoon made three 999 calls between 1.50pm and 3.15pm complaining of sickness and diarrhoea.
During the second he had a “massive headache” and told the call handler “I need help very quick,” the report said.
During the third call he reported he had food poisoning, a high temperature, and chest pains adding “I’m in trouble,” the Ambulance Service report added.
Niptoon’s case was upgraded to a category two call meaning paramedics should arrive within 40 minutes.
A note advising it was a possible sepsis incident was added for the ambulance crew to review.
A crew arrived just after 4pm and found Niptoon in bed. He told them “that he felt his organs were shutting down”, the report said.
Following tests, the crew left around 30 minutes later.
Cheryl called 999 on 10 June, 2019, after her husband complained he was aching and had no strength. He also had a mottled rash on his legs and arms.
The same crew who visited Niptoon three days earlier arrived and took him to hospital.
Niptoon was admitted to critical care but died on 12 August, 2019.
Doncaster Coroner’s Court was told Niptoon arrived at hospital at 10pm but did not receive antibiotics until 11.30am the following day.
Sepsis guidelines stated he should have commenced antibiotics within an hour of arrival. However, the court heard the delay would not have made a difference to the outcome.
Niptoon Tavakoli died from multi-organ failure on August 12, 2019. | Photo: BBC/Donna Martin
The Ambulance Service report also found that Niptoon was taken to hospital by ambulance on June 10 under normal road conditions.
However, given his condition and how he was by then showing red flag symptoms of sepsis, it would have been appropriate to have blue lighted him as an emergency, while pre-alerting the hospital.
An investigation by Public Health England found the source of Niptoon’s salmonella was from the duck eggs he bought. It found another person in the West Midlands had also fallen ill with the same strain of salmonella but had recovered.
Following the incident Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it had arranged training for staff and had updated its policies and sepsis screening tools based on National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and UK Sepsis Trust advice.
A spokesperson for Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said: “First and foremost, our thoughts remain with the family of Niptoon Tavakoli following his death in 2019.
“The Trust contributed to the Coroner’s inquest and fully accepts the findings of the jury at Doncaster Coroner’s Court. From the outset, we have acknowledged that the clinical care provided to Mr Tavakoli in June 2019 fell below the high standards we pride ourselves on.
“We are deeply sorry for this and extend our sincere condolences to Mrs Tavakoli and her family.”
Whatsapp
