Lincoln City Duo React to Chris Cohen Stoke City Move

A Lincoln City duo have reacted to the exit of assistant manager Chris Cohen, after he moved to Stoke City.

The Imps’ assistant left the SkyBet League One outfit earlier in June, joining the Potters in the SkyBet Championship.

Lincoln head coach Michael Skubala and club captain Paudie O’Connor described the former Nottingham Forest midfielder as “brilliant” and “excellent”, while attention turns to finding his replacement.

“Brilliant Member of Staff”:

Speaking on a media day at the LNER Stadium, the Imps head coach Michael Skubala said: “Chris was brilliant. He was a fantastic support, a brilliant member of staff, and like Tom Shaw, and Scotty [Fry], and all the staff at the EPC, he fitted in nicely. But, we knew when Chris came in, he might have opportunities to go higher, just like players.”

Irish centre-back O’Connor said: “He’ll be a miss, no doubt. Chris has been excellent since he’s come in. He has a lot of experience, he’s a very good coach, he’s worked at a high level.”

Cohen has held coaching positions at Nottingham Forest, Luton Town and Southampton.

The 37-year-old joined Lincoln City permanently in January, after holding a temporary role during Tom Shaw’s time as interim head coach earlier in the season.

The Imps club captain credited the former West Ham United man’s in-game knowledge and added: “I spoke to him in the off-season, and he just said that it was an opportunity that he just couldn’t turn down, both as in a step up in the leagues and living arrangements, it suits him a bit better.”

Attention Turns to Finding Replacement:

Skubala’s attention now turns to finding a replacement for Chris Cohen ahead of the upcoming League One campaign.

Speaking to reporter Jamie Johnson, he said: “Now, it’s for me to replace Chris, and I’m looking at the moment and working hard. It doesn’t have to be like-for-like, what we need going into this season might be different. So, like anything when things evolve, Chris is always welcome back at this club, and he is a fantastic servant at this club.”

Club captain Paudie O’Connor added that he had “no doubt” Lincoln would find a fitting replacement.

Cohen’s appointment came before Lincoln City headed on an impressive unbeaten run in the second-half of last season.

Confident in Lincoln City Finding a Cohen Replacement – Opinion:

Lincoln City’s recruitment, both in terms of players and staff, is often superb. They have proven time and again that putting the hard yards in during the recruitment process comes good in the end.

Take Michael Skubala’s appointment, for example. The process took an extended period of time, but that resulted in a head coach that has so far fitted with the club seamlessly.

Chris Cohen is a well thought of coach, and there’s no surprise that he has been head-hunted by a club higher up the EFL. I think he has a big future in coaching.

In terms of his replacement, I find it is interesting that Skubala said it might not be like-for-like. Tom Shaw and Scott Fry remain at the club, so only time will tell who completes the quartet.