Lincoln City Chief Makes Further Departures Admission

Lincoln City CEO Liam Scully has admitted that further departures are likely after Lasse Sorensen’s transfer to Huddersfield Town was confirmed this afternoon.

The Imps enjoyed an excellent campaign last season, finishing seventh in League One. They entered the final day within the play-off places, although a 2-0 defeat against champions Portsmouth saw them drop out of the top six.

Despite the disappointment, Lincoln earned many plaudits for their performances during the second half of the season. However, this has seen many of their players attract interest from elsewhere.

Sorensen is the first big-name exit from the East Midlands-based side, swapping the LNER Stadium for the recently relegated Huddersfield. The Dane was a popular figure amongst supporters and the club took the option to exercise the one-year option in his contract at the end of the campaign. As a result, the Terriers have had to shell out a fee which could be worth up to £500,000.

The 24-year-old looks set to be joined out the exit door by former teammates Teddy Bishop and Danny Mandroiu. Speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Liam Scully revealed that the pair have likely played their last game for Lincoln, having seen their contracts come to an end:

“I think we’re coming to the end of conversations there,” he said. “Quite candidly, we offered terms and at the time they weren’t deemed acceptable. We’ve provided an exclusivity period that’s running out.

“I don’t want to be too crass and unveil things that are too private and personal, but I would probably say in the balance of probability, it will be unlikely that we see either of those two in a Lincoln City shirt again.”

“Having moved on, certainly from our point of view, if we can execute things we have planned then I think that’s the direction we have moved in now. Both great servants for the football club and we wish them well.

“Maybe the door is open just slightly, but more than anything I think that is the end of their tenure at Lincoln City.”

Two players who have been linked with moves elsewhere are goalkeeper Lukas Jensen and midfielder Ethan Erhahon. Both were ever-presents under Mark Kennedy and then Michael Skubala last season and remain under contract at Sincil Bank. The CEO discussed whether he expects any interest in the duo this summer:

“Starting with Lukas, the goalkeeper market is a really interesting one. Whilst we have some indicative conversations, there’s nothing been brought to the table.

“I would hope that Lukas is a Lincoln City player, and we accept that he is one that is part of this football club for next season.

“With Ethan Erhahon, there is a great deal of interest in him. He’s one of the key players that has attracted attention from above in the Football League and even abroad.

“Whilst there’s been no firm offers yet, we’re watching that closely. We are well protected, as Jez (George) will have alluded to, in this situation. We’ve got a significant contract with Ethan, so it will have to be a very appetising offer for Lincoln City to accept that.”

Writer’s View
It’s set to be an exceptionally busy summer at Lincoln. Sorensen has attracted a handsome fee and their coffers could be boosted significantly more should Erhahon follow suit. However, the preference would be to keep the midfielder and potentially build the team around him next season.

Bishop and Mandroiu’s exit are expected, although they will still be big misses. They were both pivotal to the Imps’ surge up the League One table during the second half of the campaign and will be a great addition to wherever they end up. That said, Michael Skubala’s team are an attractive prospect, and they will be confident that they can bring in players of equal or better quality.