Day 283

I’m running through key stages of the season over the next couple of weeks, on the quiet days (like today) where nothing much happens. Today I recall my arrival at the club, with the benefit of hindshight.

It took a while for me to settle in at Lincoln. New to the league, the club, and management in general, I stumbled blindly through the first week.

With a non-existent transfer budget, I soon realised that I needed every signing to be both free and important. I scoured the listings of known free agents, hoping to spot the diamonds in the rough.

Meanwhile, I went fairly hands-off for our first few friendly matches of the season. I needed to learn the strengths and weaknesses of the team. It took little time—or analysis—to see that the squad I’d inherited was going to struggle. So-called “first team” players could barely kick a football, so far as I could tell, and I needed to overhaul most of the squad.

I worried that we’d be sucked into a relegation dogfight, weeks before the actual season had begun. But then the names of two veteran former internationals came across my desk. Rui Marques and Salomon Olembé actually gave me the time of day. I couldn’t believe it. I can’t believe it. But Olembé agreed to come on trial, and then they both agreed to full-time contracts. Maybe we’d have a chance after all.

It helped, of course, that my scouts had recommended I give striker Matthew Barnes-Homer a close look. I was unimpressed by the lad’s pedigree, but he soon won me over (as you might have realised, if you’ve been reading along).

Barnes-Homer and a promising young striker called Omar Koroma were far from sure things at this early stage. My first week in charge saw several talented strikers arrive on trial, while there was hope that the players already under contract—Sam Smith, Richard Pacquette, Nialle Rodney, and injury-plagued Francis Laurent—might be good enough to mount a play-off challenge.

They weren’t. I’m still trying to get rid of Rodney, who was tipped for bigger and brighter things but couldn’t even hold his spot in the team—he would start as first-choice, then slip back to the bench, and finally rot in the Reserves for most of the season. Pacquette left on a free transfer; I released him from his contract a few months ago. Laurent’s contract will not be renewed at the end of the season, although I’m happy with his contribution. Smith might get to hang around a while longer; I haven’t decided yet.