Football Season Guide

Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley will be delighted after pulling off one of the transfer coups of the summer in the capture of striker John Akinde. He has signed on a three-year deal for an undisclosed six-figure fee from relegated Barnet and will add to an already considerable strike-force in Matt Green and Matt Rhead. Akinde has notched more than 20 goals in the three previous seasons before scoring just seven in an injury-hit campaign last time around. It will help soften the blow having lost midfield playmaker Alex Woodyard, who opted to join Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee earlier in the summer. A trio of other players who were regulars in the side last season have also left in defender Sean Long, midfielder Elliott Whitehouse and striker Ollie Palmer. Expectations are high at Sincil Bank having reached the play-off semi-finals in their first season back in the Football League but Cowley knows his side faces a huge challenge to match that achievement this time around. He will be relieved to have re-signed defender and last season’s player of the season Neal Eardley on a new two-year deal whilst he has added to the squad with full-back Harry Toffolo from Millwall. Goalkeeper Grant Smith and winger Bruno Andrade have both signed from Boreham Wood whilst the capture of midfielder Michael O’Connor from Notts County is also something of a coup. He already has a strong spine in defender Luke Waterfall, midfielders Lee Frecklington and Michael Bostwick and wingers Harry Anderson and Tom Pett but is still looking to strength his squad further. Sincil Bank has become something of a fortress and will be one of the toughest grounds to visit in League Two again this season. If the Imps can make the most of that advantage they ought to be pushing for another top seven finish.