Ex-Aston Villa Man Given Imps' Role

15th June 2006

After nearly a month of searching for a new manager, Lincoln City have......not actually appointed one! Instead, Imps' chairman Steff Wright has decided to appoint a head coach and a director of football.

Taking the title of head coach is John Schofield, who has spent the past year switching between first team and youth team duties. Prior to last season, Schofield oversaw youth team development. During this time, Jack Hobbs left Lincoln City's academy in a deal worth £750,000 to join Liverpool. Last month, Watford completed the £50,000 signing of Imps' youth team goalkeeper Scott Loach.

The appointment of Schofield should not prove too much of a surprise, as a number of youth team players have been offered professional contracts for next season.

Schofield is a popular among Imps' supporters, not least because he made over 300 first team appearances for The Imps. He has already managed one game for Lincoln City, when he acted as caretaker-manager for the match at Mansfield Town following Keith Alexander's suspension from the club. The match, which took place on January 1st 2006, finished as a 0-0 draw.

Helping Schofield will be John Deehan, who has been appointed as Lincoln City's Director of Football. Deehan will assist with coaching but has primarily been brought in to help find new players.

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. Norwich were disappointing the following season, which led to relegation and the departure of Deehan in July 1995.

Deehan returned to management at Wigan Athletic, whom 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.

John Deehan's managerial career:

Deehan leaves League One club Northampton Town, where he had held the same position. Deehan was recently rejected for the vacant Northampton manager's job in favour of John Gorman.

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