Lincoln City

Lincoln close in on Kovacs deal
Lincoln manager Peter Jackson hopes to complete the signing of Chesterfield defender Janos Kovacs next week. Six foot four Hungarian Kovacs, 22, played 42 times last season and scored twice, including one against Lincoln. The Imps will have to go to a tribunal to agree a fee with Chesterfield, who had offered him a new deal. Jackson told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "It will go to tribunal. We tried to set a fee but couldn't do it. Hopefully it will be tied up by Wednesday." Jackson also revealed the lengths Kovacs was going to in order to sign up at Sincil Bank. "He must be intent on coming here," said the Imps boss. "He is driving over from Hungary. "It must take 14 days to get here," joked Jackson.

Mullarkey offered deal by Lincoln
League Two side Lincoln City have offered a one-year contract to Grantham Town striker Sam Mullarkey. The 20-year-old was released by Nottingham Forest as a youngster and had a spell with Lincoln United, before joining the Gingerbreads last summer. Last season he scored 19 goals for the Unibond First Division South side. Mullarkey, who was born in Lincoln, told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "To play for a team where you come from is great - it's a dream come true."

Lincoln complete Patulea signing
Lincoln City have completed the signing of trialist striker Adrian Patulea, subject to international clearance. The Imps have been in talks for several weeks with his club Petrolul Ploesti. The Romanian, 24, has signed a one-year deal for an undisclosed fee and could make his league debut in Saturday's derby match at home to Grimsby. Manager Peter Jackson told Radio Lincolnshire: "I'm delighted he's our player, he's a great lad and I'm confident he will score goals." The deal for the striker has been a protracted one after he initially joined the club on trial in July. The former Rapid Bucharest man scored a hat-trick in his first game against Lincoln United, and another goal against Retford, after earning a trial by running around the training ground with his girlfriend on his back.

No rush to sign players - Jackson
Lincoln City manager Peter Jackson says he will not be pressured into making loan signings despite the Imps' poor start to the season in League Two. City's 3-1 defeat at Bury on Saturday was their fourth in six matches. Jackson told Radio Lincolnshire: "I brought in nine players over the summer and I'm going to stick with these players and see how they do. "I've got a good squad but one that's under-achieving at the moment so we have to stick at it." But Jackson admitted that the Imps' defending needed to be sharper, with all three goals conceded at Gigg Lane originating from corners. He said: "Three set-pieces which we didn't defend correctly cost us the points. "We knew they had height in there and I was looking for my goalkeeper and defenders to deal with the problem. "We suffered from it last season. That's why we made changes at the back, but they're not working at the moment."

I want left-back berth - Beevers
Lincoln City defender Lee Beevers says he wants to continue at left-back for the rest of the season. The 24-year-old, who can play anywhere across the back four, has played on the left in the Imps' last four games. He told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "I enjoy playing there and getting forward so hopefully I can hold the place down. "I like to get the ball down and play, and I think being at full-back gives me more of a licence to do that, so maybe it is the place for me." Beevers felt that the Imps also needed to maintain the level of performance shown in Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie at Leicester City, when they held them to a goalless draw before losing a penalty shoot-out, if they are to begin to climb the League Two table. He said: "I thought we were very organised and strong, but we need to get back to doing it in League Two, that's our bread and butter. "We have to keep clean sheets against League Two strikers week-in week-out, not just when it's at a nice stadium."

Oakes to make reserves comeback
Lincoln City midfielder Stefan Oakes is set to make his comeback after injury on Tuesday in the Imps' reserves game away at Nottingham Forest. Oakes, 30, has spent almost a month on the sidelines with a calf problem. He has made only five appearances for the Imps, having also had a back injury earlier in the season. Lincoln will also field ex-Sheffield Wednesday defender Ashley Westwood and young Birmingham full-back Jared Wilson in the match at the City Ground.

Jackson hails 'incredible' year
Lincoln City manager Peter Jackson says his first 12 months in charge of the club have been "incredible." Jackson was appointed manager at Sincil Bank a year ago with the Imps bottom of League Two. As well as securing their league status Jackson successfully went through treatment for throat cancer. He told Radio Lincolnshire: "It's been an incredible year, I could write a book about what's happened to me in the last 12 months." Jackson, who has steered the Imps to 10th in League Two on the back of five wins and a draw in October, praised the Imps' fans, players and board of directors for the way they supported him. "When I took over we had 91 clubs above us and an ageing side. We looked doomed," he admitted. "The club's come on leaps and bounds. I knew I had a chance with the backing they've given me, particularly through the bad times, and I can't praise them highly enough."

Lincoln duo nominated for awards
Lincoln City manager Peter Jackson and midfielder Lee Frecklington have been nominated for the League Two manager and player of the month awards. During October the Imps won five matches and drew another, with Frecklington playing a key role. As a result of that run Lincoln climbed from 19th to 10th in League Two, although they are currently 11th. Jackson has already won the manager of the month award this year, receiving the accolade in February. Also nominated are Wycombe boss Peter Taylor, Chesterfield's Lee Richardson and Darlington's Dave Penney. Frecklington's rivals for the player of the month award are strikers Chris Zebroski of Wycombe and Chesterfield's Jamie Ward, along with Darlington midfielder Jason Kennedy.

Jackson wins manager of the month
Lincoln City boss Peter Jackson has been named the League Two manager of the month for October. In that time the Imps won five of their six games and drew the other, and moved into the top 10 in the table. Jackson told Radio Lincolnshire: "I'm just a figurehead, I get the praise when it all goes well and the flak when it doesn't. "This is a reward for the support I've had from everybody at the club - the players, the supporters and the board." Jackson beat Wycombe boss Peter Taylor, Chesterfield's Lee Richardson and Darlington's Dave Penney to receive the award for the second time this year, having also received the accolade in February, shortly before undergoing cancer treatment. He admitted: "That was a sad one because I won manager of the month and then I went to hospital and didn't know if I was going to be coming back to the club. "A lot of hard work's gone in over the summer and it's been rewarded with this today." The Championship award went to Dave Jones of Cardiff City, while Bristol Rovers' Paul Trollope received the League One award. It could be a double celebration for Lincoln, with midfielder Lee Frecklington one of four contenders for the League Two player of the month award.

Lincoln make race abuse complaint
Lincoln have made an official complaint after their players and assistant boss Iffy Onuora were allegedly racially abused at Kettering Town on Saturday. Imps boss Peter Jackson has confirmed he made the complaint to referee Simon Hooper, who will be including it in his report to the Football Association. Jackson also felt stewards did not act swiftly enough to stop the abuse. He told Radio Lincolnshire: "How can that happen? He's probably in the pub by now, he's got away with it." Clearly upset at the abuse, Jackson said after the game: "How could a fellow stood 10 yards behind me call my players monkeys and make monkey gestures? It's totally unacceptable." Kettering chairman Imraan Ladak said: "As a professional football club if we get any allegations of that nature we will look into it very seriously. "I've been on the receiving end of abuse elsewhere, but you can't tarnish the whole club or the town because of the actions of one or two people." Lincoln City chairman Steff Wright said he hoped it was an isolated incident. "I think the Football League has put a lot of effort into stamping out racism, and to their credit and the fans' credit it isn't something we hear regularly," he said. "This was probably one isolated individual, and unfortunately we're all aware that there are plenty of isolated individuals who don't seem to have moved on into the 21st century." A statement on the Kettering club website confirmed the club were investigating the allegations. "The club has a strong anti-racist stance and no such abuse will be tolerated," the statement said. "Anyone found to have committed an act of racial abuse will face a life ban from the ground. "The club would urge anyone who heard any such remarks to contact the club, even if they are unable to identify the perpetrator(s)."

Imps calm over Jackson deal delay
Lincoln City chairman Steff Wright has dismissed speculation about Peter Jackson's new contract as a "sideshow". A news conference, which was expected to confirm an extended deal for Jackson, was called off last week. Jackson, who is currently contracted to the club until the end of the season, still has not signed the new deal. But Wright said: "It's a little bit of a sideshow and one that isn't concerning Peter or myself - basically that contract will be signed in time." "It's very much Peter wanting to sign a new contract under the right conditions when we're winning football matches and that position hasn't changed," he told Radio Lincolnshire.

I am glad to be back - Horsfield
Lincoln City striker Geoff Horsfield was delighted to return to competitive football at the weekend after being treated for testicular cancer. Horsfield, 35, played for 80 minutes against Brentford on Saturday, and set up Anthony Elding's equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Sincil Bank. He told Radio Lincolnshire: "Three months ago I said I would retire but I've been given a new lease of life. "I'm glad to be back playing and my aim now is to get Lincoln promoted." Former Birmingham, West Brom and Sheffield United striker Horsfield was training with League One side Walsall when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in October, and announced his retirement from football. But following successful treatment he reversed his decision and, after training with Lincoln, signed a contract with them until the end of the season. He said: "You look on life differently when you get diagnosed with cancer, but everything's clear and I'm just glad to be getting back to Saturday afternoons. "I'd have never thought I'd be doing what I'm doing but the gaffer gave me the chance to come and train, and he needed a striker so it's worked out for both of us."

Wright slams police ban request
Lincoln City chairman Steff Wright has hit out at Humberside Police's request to ban Imps supporters from the derby match at Grimsby Town on 7 March. The request, which was rejected by North East Lincolnshire Council, was made after the kick-off time was moved from 1200 GMT to 1500 GMT. Wright told Radio Lincolnshire: "I always felt that the level of policing for this game was out of proportion. "It causes more trouble than if it had been done in a low-visibility way." Humberside Police had asked that either away supporters were banned from Blundell Park or the match was played behind closed doors, after negotiations with Grimsby Town over the starting time for the match failed. In a statement North East Lincolnshire Council said: "The council does have powers under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act to prohibit or restrict the admission of spectators if there is a serious risk to their safety. "We carefully considered the evidence available but felt that public safety at Blundell Park was not being put at serious risk by a 1500 GMT kick-off rather than a 1200 GMT kick-off." Humberside Police said: "The early kick-off time was based on the known history and circumstances of the two clubs and was intended to minimise risks to public safety. "Kick-off times are always open to change and in this case the club has chosen to change the time to 1500 GMT. "We did not support the change and we still have reservations about whether that is the best way to ensure public safety. "We respect the council's decision and will now plan to police the match with the new kick-off time."

Patulea hopes to stay at Lincoln
Lincoln City striker Adrian Patulea has said he hopes to prove that he deserves a new contract with the club. Patulea, whose current deal ends in the summer, told Radio Lincolnshire: "My wish is to stay here. I put a lot of heart and passion into the club. "I must work for that contract, to prove that I am a good striker and to prove that I deserve a new contract for next year." Patulea, 24, scored the only goal in City's 1-0 win over Macclesfield.

Imps sign defender Watts on loan
Chris Sutton has made his first signing as Lincoln City manager by bringing in Fulham centre-half Adam Watts on a month's loan. Watts, 21, came through Fulham's youth academy and has previously played on loan at MK Dons and Northampton. The defender goes straight into the Imps squad for Saturday's League Two match at home to Aldershot. Former Blackburn and Celtic striker Sutton was appointed manager at Sincil Bank on Monday.

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