With all the talk recently being about Fernando Torres, Andy Carroll and transfer fees that would make most bankers blush, it’s easy to forget that transfer deadline day also applied to lower league football clubs. Lincoln were no exception and, in our own little insignificant way, transfer deadline day was actually quite interesting for us. Here’s a run down of the recent ins and outs at Sincil Bank.
THE NEW ARRIVALS
Patrick Kanyuka - defender
Congolese defender who was previously at QPR, Northampton and Swindon, and most recently Romanian club CFR Cluj. While with Cluj, he was loaned out to Unirea Alba Iulia. He has signed for the Imps until the end of the season.
Ali Fuseini – midfielder
‘The Fusilier’, as he already seems to be being called is a Ghanian midfielder who has played most of his football with Millwall. After being released by the Lions he spent some time on trial at Leeds before signing a contract with the Imps until summer 2012.
Scott Spencer - striker
Former Everton, Rochdale and Southend striker, who also spent time on loan at Yeovil and Maclesfield. He signed for Southend under current Imps boss Steve Tilson, and fell out of favour with current Shrimpers manager Paul Sturrock. After leaving Southend by mutual consent, he signed a deal with Lincoln until the end of the season.
Gavin Hoyte - defender
OK, not technically a new arrival, but the Arsenal full back has extended his loan deal until the end of the season. Which is good.
THE DEARLY DEPARTED
Scott Kerr – to York City
This is the departure that has caused the most surprise. Scott Kerr - combative midfielder, former club captain, and virtually part of the furniture at Sincil Bank has departed to sign an 18 month contract with York City. I think his choice was influenced by the fact that York is nearer to his family, and the contract has longer then Lincoln were willing to offer.
Scott had fallen out of grace with managers in recent years (not through personality defects I should hasten to add) but always ended up fighting his way back into the side before long. It was this dogged fighting spirit that made Scott one of my favourite players at City in recent years, and I think that the midfield will be worse off without his tenacity. I also think he is a better passer than many give him credit for.
Scott left after 249 appearances for the Imps since joining in 2005, and it’s a shame he didn’t get to a nice round number. Scott’s leaving also means that no players now remain from the reign of the late, great Keith Alexander.
Moses Swaibu – to Tesco?
Moses Swaibu is a funny, yet slightly sad case. The formerly reliable defender, who signed for the Imps in 2009, has had his contract terminated by mutual consent. This season he has been a different player, lacking in confidence and prone to numerous costly mistakes. Recent run-ins with the law regarding newspapers and poultry apparently removed from supermarkets without appropriate financial transactions being made only seem to have enhanced his troubles on the pitch. Sadly, this is a case of a formerly useful player who now needs to get his head right to be back playing his best football. Hopefully he’ll end up with another club as I think he still has some good years to offer someone.
THE NEARLY DEPARTED
Ben Hutchinson
Ben is on a season-long loan from Celtic, but has struggled to find form the Imps, mainly because it looks as if he really can’t be arsed. The 'million pound man' has had a patchy relationship the fans, and is perhaps a textbook example of a player with some ability who needs to knuckle down before a promising career is wasted. The Imps have apparently been trying to persuade Celtic to take him back, but it seems the Glasgow club just aren’t that daft…
Cian Hughton
‘Utility player’ Hughton is available for loan, and I for one hope he manages to work his way back into Steve Tilson’s plans as he has pace, a fair amount of ability and confidence on the ball, has shown his willingness to play in both defence and midfield and has always given his all. He may not be a starting 11 player, but I think he’s the useful type you need to have in your squad.
Paul Green
I have mixed feelings about Paul Green being made available for loan. He’s a solid defender, and has proved his versatility by playing at both right back and centre half. The trouble is that he’s injured for half of every season, and I can’t help feeling that he could get someone just as good but who would be available more often. Sorry Paul, no hard feelings.
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