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The New Manager - The Candidates - The Ex-Players
By Nathan Jackson
October 15 2007
In our analysis of all the potential new managers, we will start by looking at the chances of some of the former Lincoln City players who have gone into management, including Stuart Bimson (left). 3 of the last 4 City managers have all been former players at Sincil Bank, only Keith Alexander being relatively successful, with the other two almost guiding the Imps into the Conference.

City are a club that have a recent habit of hiring former players as managers, meaning that anyone out of the below list who applies will have a good chance of getting the job. Since John Beck was sacked just under 10 years ago, Shane Westley, John Reames, Phil Stant, Keith Alexander and John Schofield have been in charge at Sincil Bank, each one being at the club before they were appointed. The only exception in the last 10 years has been Alan Buckley.

Stuart Bimson of Lincoln City Football Club, at the teams Sincil Bank stadium.One of the few ex-Imps in management at the minute is Stuart Bimson (right). Bimmo left Sincil Bank back in 2003 to go to Cambridge United.

He is currently in charge of Bedford Town and has had a mixed start to the season, winning 5, drawing 1 and losing 5 of their opening 11 matches, a record that sees them sit 8th in their relatively division.

The chances of Bimmo wanting to apply are probably slim due to his family being incredibly settled in the Bedfordshire area. Even if he did apply, chances are he wouldn't get it as the club will more than likely want to hire someone with Football League experience, something that Bimmo doesn't have as a manager.

HANLONTAGThe same will almost certainly be the same for Ritchie Hanlon. The midfielder played 12 games for City in the 2004/5 season before being released. Injury caused his career to come to an end last season and he went on to manage St Albans.

He was unable to stop them being relegated at the first attempt from the Conference, and he was sacked following a dreadful start to this season.

At a relatively young age for a manager, Hanlon could potentially have a good future in management, but do we want to take a risk on someone who has a poor management record in the non-league?

Hanlon would probably be close to the bottom of the list if he did apply.

Grant Brown of Lincoln City Football Club, at the teams Sincil Bank stadium. | Headline: Grant Brown/Lincoln City

"Hoof" Grant Brown has been put in charge of the team until the management situation sorts itself out and probably has the best chance out of all the best players.

He has effectively a "trial shift" to see if he can be successful as manager of the Imps as it will probably be a few weeks before we appoint someone.

However, Brown's record as the reserves manager is extremely mixed, with a good cup record nullified by a poor record in the Reserves League.

Mick Harford was a popular player as Sincil Bank, just like he was at any club he has been at. However, he hasn't been a popular manager due to his poor record of losing 20 of his 38 games managed over spells with Forest, Rotherham and QPR.

Harford would probably be the most popular choice amongst Imps fans, but his record would leave me personally with a high level to doubt as to whether he would do a good job as the manager of the Imps.

Glenn Cockerill is another former player that would prove popular with the City fans....but another with an average managerial record.

Having been manager at Woking since the 2002/3 season, Cockerill has won 93 of his 256 games in charge of the club, losing 79 and drawing the rest....not an awful record to be honest, but one that again would leave me doubting if he would be able to do the job at City.

 

Those are more than likely going to be the 5 most likely ex-players candidates for the job of manager.....but whether any of them are good enough is unfortunately looking unlikely.

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