September 2, 2022 10.48 am This story is over 33 months old

Deadline Day roundup: Scully leaves but patience proves a Virtue for Lincoln City

One big player departs, but midfield options were strengthened
Anthony Scully ended his near three year stay at the club by joining Wigan - but Matty Virtue joined the club on loan this deadline day. | Photo: Chris Vaughan / Lincoln City FC
By Local Democracy Reporter

It was a busy transfer deadline day for Lincoln City, with movement both in and out of the club on the final day of the window.

Transfer deadline day is the final opportunity football clubs have to make additions to their squads before the next window in January – and Lincoln City’s business continued right up until the deadline.

The Imps had already strengthened the squad throughout the summer transfer window, bringing in Paudie O’Connor and Charles Vernam on free transfers from Bradford, as well as Jay Benn from Halifax Town and Danny Mandroiu from Shamrock Rovers.

Stoke City midfielder Tashan Oakley-Boothe joined Lincoln City on a season-long loan deal. | Photo: Andrew Vaughan / Lincoln City FC

Loans were also a prominent part of Lincoln’s window – as the Imps signed Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Jordon Garrick, Jack Diamond and Carl Rushworth on season-long deals.

Deadline day saw one more arrival in the form of Matty Virtue from Championship side Blackpool, managed by former Imps boss Michael Appleton.

https://twitter.com/LincolnCity_FC/status/1565421734429425667?s=20&t=38dwYczWRXS4GRF1wdpVvg

The energetic box-to-box midfielder has promised “a lot of effort and endeavour” during his time at Lincoln this season, hoping to replicate the form that saw him play as part of Blackpool’s promotion winning squad in 2021.

However, on the eleventh hour, as the window was about to close, Imps fans received the news they had been dreading – as winger Anthony Scully left the club for pastures new.

The 23-year-old signed for Wigan Athletic in the Championship for an undisclosed fee, with Lincoln City retaining a future interest in the player.

Making over 100 appearances for the Imps and scoring 37 goals in the process, Scully will be a difficult player to replace – but the club are hoping the likes of Vernam, Garrick, Mandroiu and Diamond can fill the void the Irish forward leaves behind.

Chris Maguire. | Photo: Andrew Vaughan / Lincoln City FC

As well as this, Chris Maguire was released from his contract on Thursday by mutual consent, following a recent FA betting charge for the 33-year-old.

With all business now concluded until January, head coach Mark Kennedy can now work with the players he has to continue his strong start in charge of the Imps – which has seen him lose just one of his first nine games.