Welcome to the mad house Clive Nates.

It’s the worst kept secret in Lincolnshire football and almost as long running as Crossroads but Lincoln City have now confirmed Clive Nates is on board as a director of the club and investment funds have now started to flow into the club.
The club have issued the following statement through chairman Bob Dorrian:-

"On behalf of myself and the Board, we are extremely happy to welcome Clive Nates to Lincoln City Football Club, both as an investor in the Club as well as a director in LCFC and Lincoln City Holdings, through his company Sportvest Capital LLP," said Mr Dorrian.

"It is a year since I started dialogue with Clive and his potential involvement in the Club. Happily, negotiations progressed well, culminating in today's announcement.

"Clive, like ourselves, is looking forward to helping us to achieve our goal of returning to the Football League as quickly as possible.

"In the meantime we shall look forward to seeing Clive at Sincil Bank in March, where perhaps some of you will have the opportunity to meet him. Welcome aboard Clive."

Mr Nates commented:-

"I am delighted that agreement has been reached. It has taken some time but the Club has had a number of issues to resolve and these have now been positively concluded.

"The funds introduced are relatively small in the context of teams at the top of the National League but they do provide stability for the Club and a fighting chance of achieving the success the fans desire.

"The Club still needs the ongoing support of fans and all other stakeholders, especially during difficult times, to ensure that Lincoln maintains a viable professional football club in the city.

"I am grateful for the support of Bob and the Board of Directors, of the Supporters' Trust and the vast majority of fans and hope that more exciting times lie ahead. I especially want to thank Kevin Cooke for all the hard work that has been necessary to conclude the deal."

That was a slightly cryptic comment from Mr Nates but I suppose you lose sight of the fact that football clubs, even those at our less than elevated level are relatively large businesses and there are bound to be issues to be resolved but from this blog, welcome Clive and may your involvement bring you pleasure and satisfaction.

Super Imps serve up a treat.

After last weeks jittery one-nil win over Guiseley all the talk on the radio after the game was, that’s all very well but wait till we play Eastleigh, then we’ll know if the revival is really on.

I said last week if City could just have got another goal, which would have been justified after the battering City gave Guiseley, the overall perception of the game might have been different and City might have had an easier second half. Guiseley went on to fully test the Imps in the second period so there was certainly no fluke in the result.

Inexplicably, to my red and white eyes, there were fewer at yesterdays game whereas I might have thought more would turn up against sterner opposition to see if the Imps could prevail against genuine promotion hopefuls. A good friend of mine, and a reader of this blog so I’ll choose my words carefully, sent me a text just before half time. He had been enjoying a pleasant lunch out with his wife rather than taking his usual seat in the Coop in the Community Stand. 3-0 at half time, he observed, not the smartest thing he ever did? Well, she’s a very nice lady and ordinarily I’d say fair enough but this time I didn’t pull any punches, you’ve missed the game of the season mate!

When we were chatting in the pub before the game, as you do, I think we were of the opinion that a draw would be a good result. Little did we think City would take complete command of the game and have it won by the break. Not only that, it was the nature of the performance, helped, I might say by the strong and gusty wind. City chose, I presume, to play against the wind in the first half. I don’t think I’d have gone the other way round if I’d won the toss. They were therefore required to keep the ball on the ground and what a difference it made. Once again McCombe was a steadying influence at the back although he wasn’t tested to the degree he was the week before. I must say Bush would have been my third choice partner after Waterfall and Howe but after last week he could hardly be left out and another clean sheet tells the story.

There was another good show from our on loan winger James Caton. One can only hope the way he’s playing, that Shrewsbury are either not watching or think that our level brings out the best in the player because he’s been a revelation and, after last weeks scorching effort, got one in the net yesterday in similar spectacular style.

One could go on and on after such a special display but I’ll just pose the question, where does all this leave Liam Hearn? The Muldoon Rhead partnership shows real promise. Sure Hearn slotted in well alongside Matt Rhead and I was desperate to get Hearn back but he’s injured again despite his complaints of not getting enough football. This is exactly the concern the management team had and someone else has come in and taken full advantage. Muldoon is an excellent, industrious player with a good attitude. Would you put Hearn back in at the expense of Muldoon when he’s fit again? Me neither.

Let’s hope City’s mini revival is not just a wing and prayer.

Not so long ago I’d have been tempted to give the home game tomorrow a miss and see if the good lady fancied a day out somewhere but after last week she’ll have to indulge in a little retail therapy by herself. She’d probably tell you this is not necessarily such a bad thing so it’s probably a win win situation.

The thing we all want to know is will the upturn in form continue or will it be back to a lose lose scenario. As always time will tell.

The return of Jamie McCombe certainly got Impish juices flowing and if he was listening to Friday Football on BBC Radio Lincolnshire last Friday evening he would have known he’d made the right decision coming back to Sincil Bank and be assured of a good reception which of course he received. The doom and gloom was at least temporarily suspended as fans took to their phones to text of their delight. The question was is he still mobile enough and he showed us on Saturday he was.

What got me out of my seat, apart from Chris Bushes goal was the scintillating performance of the other new boy James Caton. I’ve watched Lincoln City enough to not expect the display he gave against Guiseley every week and his chequered history of more or less constantly being out on loan gives cause for concern. Having said that, for all the criticism Chris Moyses receives I think most people will concede he knows a player when he sees one and personally I think if anyone can get the best out of a recruit it’s Moyses so I’m optimistic we may have got a find there. Caton and McCombe weren’t the only signing before the deadline so another reason not to miss the game tomorrow. Who knows we may now play with two wingers and if they can get going we could be in for a treat.

Caton was realistic about his debut but determined to make the most of his opportunity, he told the Echo:-

"I'm just grateful that the gaffer has given me this opportunity. I really enjoyed Saturday and I hope I can continue that each time I play. I have always believed in myself so I am hoping this is finally the opportunity I need to get going again.

"It is always nice on your debut to get off to a good start and I hope I can continue that. But I am not going to rest on my laurels. Yes, it was a good game, but that's at the back of my mind now and I am focussed on trying to do it again next week”

Muldoon puts aside sorrow to inspire City to a win at last.

Lincoln City finally recorded a win on Saturday as they saw off the challenge of Guiseley. That challenge was some time in coming as it seemed to me they had come to Lincoln principally to avoid defeat. All that had to change after City scored with Chris Bush nodding in a Greg Tempest corner. It’s perhaps a testament to the nature of the game that Bush told the press afterwards he didn’t realise he’d scored and was busy moaning at the referee asking for a free kick. Good job his wish wasn’t granted.

Chris Moyses surprised, if that’s the word, fans and press alike by playing no recognised strikers from the start although Robinson and the so far unseen, by me at least, Mc Daid were on the bench. The much anticipated return of Jamie McCombe meant there was no place for Waterfall in the starting eleven and Howe wasn’t even on the bench.

Bush was given the sponsors man of the match award although I could think of a couple of others I might have picked in front of him. There was very grudging acknowledgement of the win as far as the manager was concerned on the radio after the game but goodness only knows what the reaction to the team selection would have been had City lost. Moyses showed if nothing else he’s got guts and of course they didn’t lose. In fact if you’d watched that game again knowing the Imps were to hold on for the win I suspect you might see the game in a wholly different light with City giving their visitors a proper battering at one stage but failing to add to their score. Had they done so I suspect they might have produced an easier win than they did but they’re human beings as John Beck used to say and display human emotions, principally fear judging by the performance.

Having shrugged off their negativity of the first half Guiseley to their credit did give City a thorough examination towards the end. Bush got the plaudits but I think McCombes display gave City an assurance they were previously lacking, I’m really pleased to have him back. City’s most improved player, Jack Muldoon put the death of his father out of his mind and, captain for the day, gave a rip roaring performance in the lone role up front. Elsewhere I really liked the look of loanee James Caton who was a real crackerjack and so nearly capped his game with a spectacular effort which crashed off the woodwork. If that had gone in I’d still be cheering now.

Embattled City boss pulls a very large rabbit out of the hat.

In the considerable form of Jamie McCombe of course, a development that should have the most died in the wool critic of Chris Moyses pausing to consider whether this will turn out to be the banner signing that will get City going again. Like most of you I was a massive fan of the massive defender when he was with us previously, particularly as he deserted Scunthorpe United in favour of the Imps and he was a part of the team that tried and failed in the playoffs.

"We know things have not been good, but we were never going to stop working hard," Manger Moyses told the assembled press yesterday. "At present we are seven points off the top five, we have still to play teams above us as well.

The prospect of playing the teams above us is one that, I have to confess I’ve not been filled with enthusiasm about although the manager seems not to have lost his confidence but to a certain extent he would say that wouldn’t he?

I will say this signing has gone a long way to restoring some hope that City can get moving again and, even at 33 this can be seen as a positive development for the next season or two. Moyses is not having any truck with the doubters though:-

"It is not over and done by a long shot, so we need to do all we can and brining in Jamie addresses some of the issues that have been bothering us.

"Jamie will bring us that bit of knowledge and experience that has been lacking at the back. He's played up to the Championship and is a very accomplished professional."

"I know Jamie has a history with City, but for me his is also very much the right sort of character that we have been looking to recruit this year," said the under fire supremo

"He is also a lad who is based up this end of the country, so he fits the bill in that respect. He is going to be a good addition."

I’ve still not given up on the Imps manager but we can’t go on losing every game the way we have lately and what is particularly disappointing is the home form, previously so solid has disappeared altogether and Imps fans have had to sit through three home defeats in a row and two draws since they last won, against Tranmere back in mid-November.

I’ll just leave you with one Colemanballs style quote from the bellicose manager who must have known what message he wanted to get across but couldn’t quite get it into words as he chatted to the press on Thursday:-

"I just don't like people who look at you in the eye and then stab you in the back.”

Was he talking to an octopus, possibly? We’ve after all had whales in Skeggy this week.

Business as usual.

Despite the clamour on BBC Radio Lincolnshire after the game on Saturday which saw Lincoln City further extend their losing streak manager Chris Moyses is assuming he’s in charge until someone from the club tells him he’s not, unless of course he comes to the conclusion all is lost. At least City scored at Wrexham, albeit a penalty.

I honestly thought City would emerge the winners this time, especially when I heard Rhead had scored from the penalty spot to put the Imps in the lead but once again City slipped to defeat, a result Moyses described as “disgraceful”:-

"It is disgraceful, but we are doing all we can to sort it out," Moyses told the assembled press and media. "I think at times it is too easy to put your hand up and say it was 'my mistake'. Sometimes we need to be a bit more ruthless and that bit more clinical.

"We got options with Chris Bush, he could come into the centre back role. We are going to have to do something now because it has not been working. It is not just centre halves, it is a back four issue. We do need to do better. People cannot keep making the same mistakes and not face the consequences.

"It's a balance to allow people to bed themselves into games and runs of games. It is a theme now and 10 games in the league is a theme which is far too long. I will see what options are available to me, we certainly need to liven it up, though."

Manager in not my fault shocker, that might have made a better headline. To make matters worse injuries are now starting to crop up with both Bradley Wood and Liam Hearn coming off the field in Wales.

Moyses bemoaned the chaotic defending that has become the hallmark of recent performances and hinted at changes but did not specify what or was not asked, I wouldn’t know because I’d given up listening to the radio by then.

Is Saturday the day City slay the dragon?

Chris Moyses has been telling the Echo he has chairman Bob Dorrians unwavering support, as well he might as he was, until fairly recently on the board of directors himself.

I don’t think my support has been too wobbly either although, boy could we do with a win tomorrow.
I’ve mentioned before the sack the manager crew are gathering support and of course it’s always the most vociferous who get their views across because they’re the ones who can be bothered to ring up BBC Radio Lincolnshire and they in turn are going to give them air time and read out their texts.

I do wonder if this unusual relationship may yet turn out to be the saviour of the club though. I’m going to preface my remarks by saying by and large I have agreed with the club when managers have departed although City have got through far too many managers in their time. Looking back I can think of perhaps Keith Alexander, first time round, I’d have given him another season and Steve Thompson, he’s not very fashionable these days but I’d not have let him go when the club did although his was a resignation, admittedly after the club said they wouldn’t renew his contract. Ironically, Keith was the man who came in when Thompson resigned.

Now to the vexed question of the present manager. I said previously Rome wasn’t built in a day and City are never going to buy their way into the league, it’s got to be an organic process. Is Moyses the man for the job? If you look at the Imps first half of the season you’d say yes. If you look now you’d say no, or would you? I don’t think I’ve seen City trounced this season at home, one or two clubs have found us out, particularly in attack. In defence too we’ve shipped some stupid goals but this is the national league, what do we expect?

I’ll take my rose tinted glasses off now and say, obviously there has got to be a dramatic improvement. I’m more than a bit fed up of seeing City start off well only to revert to kick and rush football, I’ve given my support, can we see much less hit and hope please?

Having said all that, City play Wrexham tomorrow and they’ve lost five in a row. They also play pretty football so, seeing as I won’t be watching maybe Saturday is a day for a smash and grab raid.