The Imps faltered at the final hurdle, failing to defeat Portsmouth on the final day of the season, but that was enough for the supporters. As Pompey scored a second goal, ending the home team’s valiant struggle, the entire crowd erupted in cheers, happy of what they had seen since the turn of the year.
Much of this is due to coach Michael Skubala. He was recruited from the Leeds academy and taken charge of his first Football League club in November. Despite a difficult start with a reduced squad, the Imps prospered. March was particularly lively, with three victories over Barnsley (5-1), Cambridge (6-0), and Bristol Rovers (5-0) keeping spectators entertained.
Next season will be a major test as they try to improve on seventh place, but there’s no doubt Skubala’s recent showing has alerted rival clubs to his potential. In the online age, every fan has an opinion, and many at Plymouth Arygle believe Skubala has already spoken to them.
It feels like baseless rumour, especially when you consider these four reasons we think Michael Skubala won’t leave Lincoln City this summer.
Michael Skubala’s job at Lincoln is only just getting started, and he strikes supporters as a man who wants to see a job through. He had a great end to the season, but it was a 20-game run rather than a full season. He’ll need to put a 46-game campaign behind him to fully capitalise on his rising stock.
Of course, if the Imps lead the way at Christmas by ten points and the Leeds job comes up, it might be a different story.
Several talented managers, including Steven Schumacher, Danny Cowley, Nathan Jones, and Paul Hurst, have left a successful team to pursue better opportunities, only to fail. However, Eddie Howe and Kieran McKenna demonstrate that remaining put and finishing a project is sometimes the best way to succeed.
If Michael Skubala is as good as he claims to be, remaining put and establishing himself at Lincoln is the best way to advance. The grass may appear greener, but if you water your area properly, your garden will be more than adequate.
Skubala’s basic goal is to improve the players on a daily basis, which will lead to overall team improvement. That was clearly evident with Jovon Makama, who finished the season looking like a League One striker. Many players improved, according to Imps fans.
It is almost clear that Skubala applies that logic to himself. He learns, evolves, and adapts, and in Lincoln, he has a strong coaching staff, including former Forest player Chris Cohen. Skubala will continue to improve, learn, and evolve, and it appears that he will desire to keep doing so for the foreseeable future.
Finally, analyse Lincoln’s performance during the past eight seasons. Only once have they finished worse than the previous season (2021/22, following Covid), and they are widely considered as a forward-thinking club with ambitions and the capacity to play higher. Last month, longtime San Diego Padres owner Ron Fowler and his son Andrew invested in the Imps. They have a strong squad and a reputation for producing new players, and the stadium is almost always above 85% full.
They are a steady club, having fired only one manager since 2014. Managers, or head coaches, are given time to work through difficult periods, and there appears to be a genuine synergy between owners and supporters. Indeed, following the last game of the
season, members of staff such as the CEO, Director of Football and even players were seen drinking in a popular fan’s pub.
That sort of stability and working environment is something that’s bound to appeal to a new manager looking to build a reputation for himself.
Leave a Reply