League Two Notts County are potentially interested in Lincoln City assistant head coach Tom Shaw as a potential target to take over as Head Coach following the departure of Stuart Maynard earlier in the summer, sources have exclusively informed THE DECK.
Notts County opted to part company with Maynard after he failed to gain promotion to the third tier following their play-off defeat to eventual winners AFC Wimbledon. The former Wealdstone boss was in charge of the Magpies for 73 games, winning 28, drawing 15 and losing 30.
Owners Alex and Chris Reedtz shared their disappointment in a statement:
“After being unable to achieve our aim of winning promotion this season, we share the disappointment felt by everyone connected with the club.
“While football is a game of fine margins, and Stuart undoubtedly faced numerous challenges over the course of the campaign, neither results nor performances reached the levels we believe the team was capable of – particularly during the defining period towards the end.
“Stuart leaves with our very best wishes and gratitude for his considerable commitment and dedication to the role.
Notts County Eye Highly Rated Lincoln City Coach
According to our sources, Nottingham-born coach Tom Shaw is one of the names that have been considered during an extensive recruitment process by the League Two promotion hopefuls to take over as their new Head Coach. However, it is unknown at this stage how serious this interest is and if the Lincoln City man remains a target as the club approach an appointment.
Notts County are well known for their data-driven approach to targets extending to their coaching staff as well as transfer targets, with it coming as no surprise that they have identified Tom Shaw as a potential replacement for Maynard. Lincoln City CEO Liam Scully admitted to the Stacey West Podcast that the club had received and rebuffed several approaches for their coaching staff over the summer, including Tom Shaw (from clubs not including the Magpies).
The club’s overperformance compared to resources have placed Lincoln City’s coaching staff in high demand, with Shaw highly thought of in the industry and more than capable of stepping up to a head coach position. The club have performed above expectations in several key metrics that are not evident just by looking at their 11th place finish.
Tom Shaw’s Lincoln City Journey
Shaw has worked his way up the coaching ladder at Lincoln City, starting off in the academy before taking over Gainsborough Trinity in a dual role maintaining his position with the Imps.
He resigned in 2022 and went on to join the Imps’ first team staff, learning from assistant head coach Mike Garrity. In 2023, following the departure of Mark Kennedy, Shaw took interim charge of Lincoln City, leading them to three wins and two draws over seven games with a 42.9% win percentage.
Upon the appointment of Michael Skubala, Shaw took over as Assistant head coach alongside Chris Cohen. Upon the appointment, Imps chairman Clive Nates expressed his pleasure at keeping the highly rated coach as part of the set-up.
“We’re also really pleased that Tom Shaw will stay as a key part of the structure as assistant head coach. He is a highly capable coach, and both we and Michael believe he will bring strong continuity and support to the new head coach.”
The loss of such a highly talented coach would be a blow to Lincoln, but with Chris Cohen also sharing the role and the club’s ability to convince top coaches in the past, such as Mike Garrity to join the club, Michael Skubala’s side are thought to be well equipped heading into the new season.
Lincoln City Departure
Another name that is set to leave Sincil Bank is highly regarded chief scout and loans manager Marc Tracey, who is set to link up with Luton Town this summer, as confirmed by Jez George in the Stacey West Podcast.
However, the club have seemingly moved to replace him with Grimsby Town’s Joe Hutchinson seemingly set to move across Lincolnshire to return to the Imps, having left whilst Mark Kennedy was in charge. The Real EFL reports that Lincoln have “moved quickly” to secure his return this summer. This could raise the possibility of the likes of Denver Hume and George McEachran stepping up to League One with him.