Lincoln City captain, Paudie O’Connor, is reportedly attracting plenty of suitors from the Championship and League One this summer with the 27-year-old entering the final year of his deal with the Imps
Lincoln signed O’Connor for free two years ago
Bradford City were dealt a gut punch in the summer of 2022 as Paudie O’Connor, who had only missed a single game for The Bantams in 2021/22, snubbed the League Two side in favour of a move up a league to Lincoln City.
O’Connor enjoyed three seasons at Bradford netting seven times despite playing as a centre-back. However, finishing 14th in League Two, a five-place fall since O’Connor’s arrival, was enough to deter the Irish defender from renewing with Bradford. (Telegraph & Argus)
Lincoln offered the then-24-year-old the opportunity to play up a level, offering him a three-year deal. The offer was exactly what O’Connor desired as the defender explained to the Lincoln in his first interview “My next career move needed to be right football-wise. I wanted to step up to League One and it’s clear there is a structure in place here to allow me to kick on”. (Lincoln City)
O’Connor has become club captain in his time with Lincoln
Since joining The Imps, Paudie O’Connor’s career has only progressed further.
The Ballybrown-born centre-half immediately became a regular feature in Mark Kennedy’s Lincoln side who finished 11th in 2022/23.
O’Connor shone so much in fact that the defender was propelled into being the team’s star player, picking up the club’s Player of the Season award.
Kennedy subsequently named O’Connor as his captain for the following season, with the Irishman retaining his status, as well as his form, amongst a managerial change which saw Michael Skubala take charge following Mark Kennedy’s dismissal in October.
Skubala and O’Connor, both formerly of Leeds United, then found a vein of form, forcing themselves into a play-off challenge which Lincoln ultimately lost out on by just two points.
Championship and League One sides are now looking at O’Connor
An update from Pete O’Rourke has dealt Lincoln fans a big blow, revealing that their club captain is being chased by a host of Championship and League One teams with sides now weighing up moves for the 27-year-old.
This summer is likely to be the last one that Lincoln could secure a fee for their star man with O’Connor’s current deal expiring in the summer of 2025.