Lincoln City

Morgan signs to stay with Lincoln
Lincoln's Paul Morgan has signed a new three-year deal to remain at Sincil Bank, report BBC Radio Lincolnshire. The 26-year-old captain's new contract is believed to make him the highest paid player at the League Two club. Centre-half Morgan has played 174 games for Lincoln since joining the club from Preston in the summer of 2001. The Imps have also confirmed that defender Peter Folkes, 20, has signed a one-year deal, while midfielder Peter Gain has moved to Peterborough.

Foster agrees deal with Lincoln
Young defender Luke Foster has agreed a one-year deal with Lincoln City. The 19-year-old former Sheffield Wednesday trainee found first-team opportunities limited at Hillsborough. But he has impressed during loan spells at Scarborough and Alfreton Town prompting Imps boss Keith Alexander to offer terms to the youngster. The news is a further boost for Alexander after club captain Paul Morgan signed a new three-year deal to remain at Sincil Bank on Friday.

Morgan aims to end promotion wait
Lincoln City captain Paul Morgan is determined the Imps do not fall short in the promotion race next season. Morgan, who has signed a new three-year contract at Sincil Bank, told the Lincolnshire Echo: "There is still a job to be done here. "I'm sure the gaffer will make some signings before the season starts and we can be ready for the new campaign. "We all want automatic promotion, especially after the disappointments of the play-offs in the past three years."

Peterborough complete Gain swoop
Peterborough have completed the capture of left-sided midfielder Peter Gain from Lincoln City. Posh manager Mark Wright wants Gain, 28, to aid the club's promotion push. "He is widely respected and arguably the best left-sided player in League Two," Posh director of football Barry Fry told the club's website. "We have been after him for quite some time, and it is great that he has decided to come here. He has signed a three-year contract." He added: "Peter was the first player that Mark Wright identified when he came here and we're delighted to sign such a good player." Gain had been offered a new deal by Lincoln after making 261 senior appearances for the Imps since joining from Tottenham in 1999 - but has now moved to London Road.

McAuley makes Showgrounds return
Gareth McAuley is to return to the Coleraine Showgrounds as part of the Lincoln City squad which will play the Bannsiders in a pre-season friendly. Confirming the friendly, Coleraine boss Marty Quinn said: "Lincoln have agreed to play us as a goodwill gesture which will cement the clubs' relationship. "I know our players and fans will be happy to see Gareth back at the club." The match will be played on Thursday 14 July with Rushden and Diamonds visiting the Showgrounds two days later. McAuley scored twice in play-off games against Macclesfield to book Lincoln a Coca-Cola League Two play-off final place against Southend. Keith Alexander's side lost out in the decider at the Millennium Stadium.

Hobbs eyes new top-flight switch
Lincoln City youngster Jack Hobbs' agent Charles Collymore is looking at moves to other Premiership clubs after a proposed move to Arsenal stalled. The FA Cup holders have asked for a change to the compensation package for the sixteen year-old, which has upset the Lincoln board. It is believed the transfer has fallen through because Arsenal want a sell-on clause removed from the deal. BBC Radio Lincolnshire understand Spurs and Bolton are both keen to sign Hobbs.

Marriott pens new deal at Lincoln
Lincoln City goalkeeper Alan Marriott has signed a new three-year contract with the League Two outfit. Marriott, 26, verbally agreed the new deal two weeks ago and has finally put pen to paper to ensure he will stay at Sincil Bank next season. The former Tottenham youngster has started over 250 games since joining from White Hart Lane six years ago. Following the departure of Peter Gain to Peterborough, Marriott is the club's longest-serving player.

Mayo linked with Lincoln return
Watford defender Paul Mayo could be about to return to Lincoln City, reports BBC Radio Lincolnshire. The left-sided player, 23, left the Imps to join Watford in February 2004. The former Lincoln captain is believed to have turned down a move to League One side Swindon in favour of a move back to his hometown club. Robins manager Andy King told BBC Radio Swindon: "Incredibly to me, he agreed to sign for Lincoln instead. Sometimes it is not a football choice."

Lincoln boss keen to sign Hughes
Lincoln City manager Keith Alexander wants to sign teenage defender Jeff Hughes if he impresses on trial. The Northern Ireland under-17 international played for Larne last season and was wanted by Glentoran. Alexander told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "Sunderland have come close to signing him a couple of times and some other clubs have also been interested in him. "He has got an awful lot of ability and I want him to do well so that I'm forced to sign him."

Brown agrees deal with Lincoln
Huddersfield Town utility man Nat Brown has agreed terms to join Lincoln City on a one-year contract, report BBC Radio Leeds. The 24-year-old made 83 appearances for the Terriers but was restricted to just seven starts last season. Brown is a product of the Town Academy and still had a year remaining on his contract at The Galpharm Stadium. He returned to Huddersfield at the end of last week after failing to agree terms over a move to Shrewsbury.

Seasiders chief hits back at Kerr
Scarborough chairman Malcolm Reynolds has hit back at former club captain Scott Kerr and again insisted his move to Lincoln City should command a fee. Kerr, 23, was reported to have accused Boro of making a schoolboy mistake in the timing of their new contract offer. The midfielder feels the error allowed him to join City as a free agent. But Reynolds said: "The rules are quite clear. He was under 24 on the 30 June 2005 and an offer had been made to him. We are therefore entitled to a fee." "All players become free agents when their contracts expire, that much is not in dispute. However the rules about compensation are very clear and we have satisfied the conditions "Scott had not played football for a year when he came to us and no other club would employ him. We gave him a chance and developed him into the fine midfielder that he now is. "Having paid him over £70,000 during his time here I'm disappointed that he sees fit to accuse us of errors. It's hard to see what he has to gain from immature name calling."

Bloomer signs new deal with Imps
Defender Matthew Bloomer has signed a new one-year contract at Lincoln. Bloomer moved to Sincil Bank from Hull City in January 2003, and has since made 91 appearances for Keith Alexander's side, scoring four times. The 26-year-old began his career with home town club Grimsby, before moving to Hull in 2001. However, he failed to start a League game during his 18-month spell with the Tigers, and had loan spells at Lincoln and Telford before joining the Imps.

Imps boss wants players to bond
Lincoln City manager Keith Alexander hopes that their pre-season tour will help his new signings to bond quickly. The Imps are on a one week tour in Ireland where they will play Sligo Rovers and Coleraine. Alexander told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "We go away every year before the start of the season but this time it is a little bit different. "We've got 13 or 14 new faces, so the tour gives them a chance to get to know each other and bond."

Grimsby complete deal for Toner
Grimsby Town have signed former Lincoln City midfielder Ciaran Toner on a one-year contract. The 24-year-old, who has two caps for Northern Ireland, joins the Mariners on a free after leaving Sincil Bank. Grimsby boss Russell Slade told the club's website: "Ciaran has done well with us and I'm pleased he has agreed to sign, he has a decent pedigree. "He's a good addition to our midfield and we have the option to keep him for longer than a year if it goes well."

Simpson lands full-time Imps role
Gary Simpson has been named Lincoln assistant manager on a full-time basis. Simpson, 44, was previously Keith Alexander's assistant, working on a part-time basis since 2002. The announcement was made by Steve Wright, who also said that assistant physiotherapist Michael Wait is the club's new fitness coach. Lincoln lost last season's League Two play-off final to Southend and Alexander said afterwards he would make changes over the summer.

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