Three Names Revealed

13th June 2006

Today's edition of the Lincolnshire Echo names three men who are in contention for the Lincoln City FC manager's job. How the Echo derived these names, when applications were in confidence, is unknown.

The three names in the Echo are Ian Branfoot, John Deehan and Mick Wadsworth.

Ian Branfoot: Branfoot is already a familiar name to Lincoln's supporters of a particular generation because he is a former Imps player. Branfoot was a member of the 1975/76 team that is widely regarded as one of the best ever to represent Lincoln City FC. The manager at the time was Graham Taylor and the team also included Sam Ellis and John Ward.

Lincoln's fans who are hoping for Ward's appointment may have mixed feelings about Branfoot because Ellis' spell as manager was very unsuccessful. However, Branfoot has proved a far more successful manager than Ellis.

He began his managerial career at Reading in January 1984 and 18 months later, he led Reading to promotion to the old Second Division.

His success at Reading earnt Branfoot the opportunity to manage at the top level with Southampton. His time at Southampton lasted from June 1991 to January 1994. After six months away from management, he joined Fulham in August 1994. By now, Fulham were languishing in Division Three and endured a dreadful start to the 1995/96 season, which saw Branfoot leave the club.

Ian Branfoot's managerial career :

John Deehan: Deehan is probably most associated with Norwich City but his playing career has also encompassed spells at Aston Villa, West Brom and Ipswich Town.

Deehan began his managerial career at Norwich City in January 1994 when he took over from Mike Walker, who had been poached by Everton. At the time, Norwich were in the Premiership and Deehan helped guide City to a mid-table position. They were disappointing the following season, which led to relegation and the departure of Deehan in July 1995.

Deehan returned to management at Wigan Athletic, who he guided to the Division Three title in 1997. Other than a brief caretaker spell as Aston Villa's manager, Deehan has not managed since June 1998. Instead, he has mainly been an assistant-manager.

His current role is as Northampton Town's Director of Football but he could be seeking to move after his application for the vacant Northampton manager's job was rejected in favour of John Gorman.

John Deehan's managerial career

Mick Wadsworth: Wadsworth is very much a journeyman of management, having managed five English based clubs, a couple abroad plus has been coach or assistant at several others.

He enjoyed plenty of success at Carlisle United but presiding over a team who should really have gone on to greater things than just yo-yoing between the bottom two divisions.

There was moderate success at Scarborough when he guided them into the Division Three play-offs. Spells at Colchester United, Oldham and Huddersfield have also followed. Wadsworth has also managed abroad and was once the international coach with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mick Wadsworth's managerial career

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