Lincoln City

Farsley sign Torpey on loan deal
Lincoln City striker Steve Torpey has joined Blue Square Premier side Farsley Celtic on loan until 7 January. The 36-year-old turned down a move to Farsley in the summer to continue his league career with Lincoln. But after starting just eight games this season the ex-Scunthorpe, Bristol City, Swansea and Bradford forward has joined Celtic for first-team football. The centre forward has scored almost 150 league goals and was most successful when at Scunthorpe. Meanwhile, Farsley are sorting through applications to fill their vacant managerial position after Lee Sinnott's departure to take the Port Vale job.

Lincoln offer teenager first deal
Lincoln have offered teenage defender Danny Hone his first professional contract following an impressive breakthrough into the senior side. Hone, 18, who has started City's last five games, has been offered a deal running until June 2010. "I've been very pleased with what I've seen of Danny and he is fully deserving of a professional contract," boss Peter Jackson told his club's website. "He was thrown in at the deep end, but he's stayed in the side on merit."

Lincoln manager hit with FA ban
Lincoln City boss Peter Jackson has been given a two-match touchline ban by the Football Association. Jackson admitted a breach of the FA rule covering abusive and/or insulting language following Lincoln's 1-0 home defeat by Chester. It means he will now have to watch the forthcoming home games against Barnet and Darlington from the stands. The game against Chester on 2 November was Jackson's first in charge. He has also been handed a £300 fine by the FA.

Jackson relieved as Imps earn win
Lincoln boss Peter Jackson was delighted with the result as his League Two strugglers beat Barnet 4-1. "Barnet are a good side, and even when they went down to 10 men, they gave us a real game," Jackson said. "But we've come away with three valuable points, scored four goals and hopefully the fans who have come here have enjoyed it. "Ben Wright (who scored twice) was excellent, but there's lots of competition for places up front."

John-Lewis signs pro deal at Imps
Young Lincoln striker Lenell John-Lewis has signed a professional contract which runs until the summer of 2010. The 18-year-old youth team player put pen to paper on Saturday before the Imps' 4-0 defeat against Darlington. John-Lewis has not yet started a first-team game, but has made seven substitute appearances and scored in the 3-1 win at Stockport. He is the second youth teamer to sign professional terms this season following defender Danny Hone.

Lincoln secure double loan swoop
Lincoln City have completed the loan signings of Cheltenham's Lee Ridley and Chesterfield's Adam Smith. Both player's loans are for a month and they become Imps boss Peter Jackson's first January signings. Ridley,26, a left-back or left-sided midfielder, started his career with Scunthorpe and has also played on loan for Darlington. Smith,22, a left-winger who can also play up front, came through the youth set-up at Chesterfield.

Striker Torpey leaves Sincil Bank
Steve Torpey has left Lincoln City after having his contract cancelled by mutual consent. The veteran striker made 14 appearances for Lincoln having joined the League Two club last summer. Torpey, 37, recently completed a two-month loan spell with non-League side Farsley Celtic. He started his career with Millwall before going on to have spells with Bradford, Swansea, Bristol City and Scunthorpe United.

Stallard returns to Imps training
Lincoln City have been boosted by the return to training of striker Mark Stallard following a knee injury. Stallard, 33, has endured an injury-hit season and has been out since Boxing Day with his latest problem. He told Lincoln's website: "It's been stop-start for me over the past three months so I'm relieved to be returning to training. "If everything goes well I might be available for the weekend but my main aim is getting back into training."

Frecklington has new injury worry
Lincoln City midfielder Lee Frecklington is out of action after twisting the same ankle that kept him sidelined until last weekend. The 22-year-old midfielder was injured during Tuesday's 3-0 win over Accrington Stanley. Lincoln physio Michael Wait told the club's website: "At the moment it's very swollen so we'll have to assess the situation. "We'll take our time and make sure he's 100% ready before he returns." Lincoln manager Peter Jackson said: "It looks as though we could be without Freck for the next three or four weeks so obviously I'm very disappointed."

Play-offs still in reach - Onuora
Lincoln City assistant manager Iffy Onuora insists his side still have a chance of reaching the League Two play-offs for the sixth year running. The Imps go into their Easter matches against Barnet and Hereford with an 11-point deficit to make up. Onuora told SSB: "Whether it's too big, only time will tell because Easter is such an important time. "Because there are so many points to play for we can still dream a little."

Imps appeal against sending off
Lincoln City will appeal to the FA to overturn the red card shown to midfielder Scott Kerr during Monday's 2-1 victory over Hereford. Kerr was sent off for what was deemed to be a dangerous tackle, a decision the Imps' assistant manager Iffy Onuora felt was harsh. "We are just asking that the referee looks at it again," Onuora told SSB. "We can ill afford to lose players at this stage of the season." He added: "I just think the climate now is that anything where referees think there's any kind of over the top challenge, they'll brandish a red straight away. "Once you have it in your mind to do that, you can't go back."

King delighted with debut strike
Lincoln City striker Gary King has admitted that scoring on his full debut for the club was a dream come true. The 18-year-old signed his first professional contract with the Imps before playing in the 3-1 victory over Brentford on Saturday. Homegrown King told SSB: "It was a great day for me and my family, I have seen my mum and there were a few tears. "I have been waiting years for this. I have been here since under-nines." With Alan Marriott injured 19-year-old goalkeeper Ayden Duffy also made his full debut in the match. And in addition to King another product of club's youth set-up, 17-year-old midfielder Martin Pembleton also signed a professional contract before the game. This season the Imps have fielded 10 players who have come through the youth set-up at Sincil Bank. Assistant manager Iffy Onuora was delighted for King and Pembleton and believes the future is bright for Lincoln. "I am delighted for them both, it's testament to a lot of the hard work being done behind the scenes at the club," said Onuora. "Everyone should be really proud of themselves, the chairman and the board for investing in the youth set-up when other clubs have decided not to, and the people who work in the centre as well. "To have people like Pembleton, King, Danny Hone and Lennel John Lewis coming through, it's fantastic."

Imps to make contract decisions
Lincoln City manager Peter Jackson will meet with his assistant Iffy Onuora on Monday to decide which players the Imps will retain for next season. Onuora has been in charge of the side for several weeks while Jackson has received treatment for cancer. He told SSB: "We're going to sit down to look at how we plan things for next season. "We've had to postpone it once or twice because Peter's health is the most important thing." City have a number of players whose current deals expire at the end of the current campaign, including club captain Scott Kerr, this season's joint-top goalscorer Jamie Forrester, and goalkeeper Alan Marriott who is the Imps' longest serving player, having been at Sincil Bank since 1999. The club say they will not tell the players if they are to be offered new contracts until the season is over. City's final game is at home to relegated Wrexham on Saturday.

Jackson promised money to spend
Lincoln City chairman Steff Wright has promised that manager Peter Jackson will have a good budget to bring in players for next season. On Tuesday, City are expected to give details of who they will offer new deals to and who they will release. Wright told SSB " "The manager has got a good budget to work with for next season. "We want season ticket holders to come forward, and people to get behind the club so that budget can be swelled."

Lincoln release midfielder Amoo
Lincoln City have continued their summer clear-out with midfielder Ryan Amoo having his contract cancelled by mutual consent. Amoo, 24, joined Lincoln in the summer of 2006 and made 56 league appearances for the club, scoring three goals. His last match for the Imps was against Bury on New Year's Day. Amoo is the fifth player to leave Lincoln this week, after Alan Marriott, Adie Moses, Gary Croft and Mark Stallard were released on Tuesday.

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