Lincoln City Figure Reacts to Mark Kennedy Comments

Lincoln City CEO Liam Scully has reacted to comments new Swindon Town boss Mark Kennedy made relating to his former side.

The ex-Imps head coach said Lincoln were “only ever shopping in one shop” in relation to their transfer policy of singing players under the age of 23.

Has the Model Changed?

When asked if the model had changed since Kennedy’s exit, the City chief executive said: “Nothing’s changed, Michael Skubala was aware of our model in coming in, as well Mark Kennedy, as was Michael Appleton. So, nothing has fundamentally changed there.

“We respect Mark, we wish him all the best at Swindon, and I’m sure he’s going to go on and do a very good job there. But, we’ve not changed.”

So far this summer, SkyBet League One side Lincoln City have signed three players, with just one being 23 or under. Goalkeeper Jamie Pardington, who is 23 years old, joined after his release from Cheltenham Town, while midfield duo of 28-year-old Conor McGrandles and 25-year-old Tom Bayliss also signed.

Scully continued: “I think sometimes people can look at samples of one year to another and it seems like it’s a huge pivot, and it’s not. Basically, there’s the commitment to having the majority of the squad at that pre-peak, but it’s making sure that we have that balance, and we have that experience to facilitate winning now, as well as helping those younger players develop as well.”

Youth Remains the Priority at Lincoln City:

Speaking on the same day as Lincoln City’s 140th anniversary, and the opening of the club’s new Community Hub, the CEO added: “I can’t see Lincoln City all of a sudden being 30+ [in terms of the age of signings], but that doesn’t mean that the signings and the likes of Conor McGrandles, Adam Jackson, and others, they still have plenty left in their football careers and they’re far from in the twilight.”

Alongside the focus on the transfer model of buying young players, developing them, and then potentially moving them onto a higher level, the club has put stock in bringing in more experienced names.

Mark Kennedy’s Comments:

Swindon Town’s new head coach gave his view on Lincoln City’s transfer model in his first interview after joining the SkyBet League Two side.

Liam Scully was keen to ensure the message gets across that nothing has changed in the Imp’s recruitment model, despite what a quick glance may suggest.

Clarity from Liam Scully – Opinion:

I put the question to Lincoln’s CEO because the transfers of McGrandles (twice) and Bayliss since Kennedy’s exit could point to a slight shift in tact from the higher-ups at the LNER Stadium.

Mark Kennedy’s comment were definitely interesting, especially in the light of these few transfers since Michael Skubala took charge and the focus he partly put on signing experience in the January transfer window.

However, Liam Scully has very clear that any perceived change is not the case. The focus of recruitment remains on developing young players.