Will Lincoln City take a ‘dream team’ punt on two of the top LCFC legends of all time in their search for a new manager?
John Ward, the original Lincolnshire Poacher is currently out of work, and a job at City must surely interest him. Raised in the City ‘Sniffer’ turned out for Adelaide Park before signing for City. His career since then has taken him from Bristol Rovers to York, from Carlisle to Cheltenham and even had him featuring in Graham Taylors England set up. Are his managerial days behind him? Could he be tempted with a director of football role?
If he were to look at a director of football role, then he’d need a young manager, up and coming with some experience and bags of charm. Somebody the fans can identify with, someone the board can showcase and someone who can work with Wardy. That man is Gareth Ainsworth.
Ainsworth is a City legend, a man who knows the club and the game. He worked extensively under John Beck, but adapted only his mentors philosophies on diet, training and preparation. When it comes to football he is a purist, somebody who loves the game played in the right way.
A dream team duo of Ainsworth and Ward would delight Imps young and old. Together they can rescue season 125 before it’s even lost, and make this the memorable season for everyone at the club. The pretend Lord of the Imps has gone, its now time for the two Lincoln Legends to step forward and guide our club onward and upward.
However QPR still retain Gareth’s playing contract, so there is a stumbling block there, plus he’s likely to be earning decent money in London. However John Ward is out of work, but may not want to risk damaging his reputation in Lincoln by coming back.
Anyone who does take over at the club has a job on their hands with a young squad and a set of demoralised senior professionals. The budgets been spent and the side lacks direction, but finally the fans who wanted Jackson out last Christmas have got what they wanted. Now those same armchair pundits will be looking to the board to give them another scapegoat, or another idol.