Lincoln City’s Conor McGrandles Reveals What Went Wrong at Charlton Athletic

Lincoln City midfielder Conor McGrandles has revealed what went wrong during his time at Charlton Athletic.

The Scot left the Addicks permanently this summer, after a torrid spell in the capital. He spent the second half of last term on loan at the fellow SkyBet League One side Lincoln, following a struggle to break into the first team at Charlton.

“Mainly Bad Luck”:

McGrandles was asked why things did not work out for him at Charlton during a media day at Lincoln City’s LNER stadium.

He said: “There was quite a lot of things. I think I got injured too many times, I had loads of bad luck there, and the manager that brought me in got sacked pretty soon after. So, it just didn’t really fit after that.

“There’s loads of other things behind the scenes as well, but mainly bad luck and sometimes it just doesn’t work out.”

Lack of Games at Charlton Athletic:

The 28-year-old played just 19 games in Charlton Athletic over the course of his two-year spell. He went out on loan to Cambridge United for part of the 2022/23 season, and made the same number of appearances in just half of the campaign.

McGrandles’ injury record, by his own omission, harmed his time at The Valley. During his loan spell at Michael Skubala’s Lincoln last term, he played five games before picking up a knock that prematurely ended his season.

Though, he is now fully fit ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Ben Garner was the Addicks boss when McGrandles moved south from Lincolnshire in June 2022, but he left the club the same December. Dean Holden and former Lincoln City man Michael Appleton have been and gone since, with current gaffer Nathan Jones letting the midfielder leave this summer.

A Permanent Home at Lincoln City:

McGrandles has signed for Lincoln three times: twice permanently, and on a loan deal last season.

He originally joined the club in 2020, going on to make over 90 appearances in two seasons with the Imps. Along the way, he scored seven goals and assisted three more, before Charlton Athletic sought his signature.

Sometimes Deals Do Not Work Out – Opinion

Simply, sometimes transfers just do not work out. McGrandles’ move to Charlton Athletic is an example of that, just like left-back Jaden Brown’s recently-ended time at Lincoln City.

The Scot is a capable and solid central midfielder, someone you can rely on to churn out decent performances game in and game out. I think he’ll be an important cog in the Imps midfield next season alongside the likes of Ethan Erhahon, Tom Bayliss and Ethan Hamilton.