Names of the Managers Likely to Replace Mark Kennedy at Lincoln City

Lincoln City’s search for a new head coach is still on, with some major publications putting out names of managers who could replace Mark Kennedy at Lincoln City. The club hasn’t released any official information on who has been interviewed, but the Irish Mirror has it that Stephen Kenny is the leading contender for Lincoln City job.

Mark Kennedy’s dismissal on October 18 surprised fans as the club is not known to make such mid-season changes. The dismissal came after a home defeat against Burton Albion, putting the Imps 16th in the League One Table. Notably, Kennedy had commented on Danny Mandroiu, which didn’t sit well with the Lincoln top management.

When asked if the sacking had anything to do with the position in the league, Lincoln CEO Liam Scully said Kennedy wasn’t fired based on results only, but several factors, including his comment about Danny, influenced the decision.

Why is it Taking too Long?

Since 12th October, fans and punters have been waiting to see who will replace Mark Kennedy at Lincoln City. However, the Imps haven’t released much information on the progress of their search for a new head coach.

Based on Scully’s interview with BBC Radio Lincolnshire, they are not in a hurry to find Kennedy’s replacement as they are keen to find “the right man for the job.” As much as they want to move up the table, they are looking for someone to help implement Imps’ long-term vision.

So, Who’s Likely to Be the Next Lincoln City Manager?

Although there’s no indication of who is likely to get the job, a few names have surfaced in our top contenders list. They include:

1.    Stephen Kenny

The Republic of Ireland manager, Stephen Kenny, is among the top contenders for the Lincoln City manager position. His contract is due to expire at the end of the campaign with almost no chance of renewal. Although talks between him and Lincoln City have not happened yet, there are reports of him being among the front-runners.

2.    Danny Cowley

Danny Cowley, whose most immediate role was as the head coach at Portsmouth until January 2023, is bookmarkers top pick for the position. Cowley, alongside his brother Nicky, took charge of Imps from 2016 to 2019, leading the club to an exemplary performance.

They led the club from the National League to League One and became the first non-league team in a century to get to the last eight of the FA Cup.

Due to their success at Imps, fans would love to see them come back. However, there are rumours that they could be heading to Colchester, Bristol Rovers, or Grimsby.

3.    Stephen Bradley

Bookies suggest that Stephen Bradley, the current Shamrock Rover manager, is also a top contender for the Imps manager position. Bradley was offered this position in 2022 but turned it down, preferring to stick with his current team.

Bradley joined Shamrock Rovers in 2016 and has led the team to a number of victories, including the President of Ireland’s Cup and the FAI Cup. He has also become the first manager to win four league titles in a row.

But speaking to Irish Mirror, Bradley said he would love to lead Rover to the fifth win, but that solely depends on the board. This means he won’t be moving to Lincoln City unless Rover refuses to renew his contract.

4.    Tom Shaw

Tom Shaw was appointed the Imps interim manager after Mark Kennedy’s dismissal. He has been with the club since 2018, taking different coaching roles. While he is the least experienced among all the top contenders, the team’s recent performance under this leadership could help him get the position.

Before Kennedy left, the team had a difficult start to the season, standing at position 16. Since Shaw’s appointment, the club has had two wins, one draw and one loss, climbing to position nine.

5.    Leam Richardson

Richardson had an impressive record as a League One manager of the Wigan Athletic FC, even winning the Manager of the Year award. However, he didn’t do well after their promotion to the Championship and was fired in less than two years.

Nonetheless, his exemplary performance as a League One manager could be exactly what the Imps need and could help him secure the job.

Conclusion

Although these names are not the only ones appearing as top contenders for the Lincoln City manager position, there is a very high possibility that one of them will be the next Imps manager. But for now, we can only wait to see what information the club releases.

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