Michael Skubala Nears Bristol City Job—Lincoln Braces for Change

Michael Skubala is closing in on the Bristol City job, with talks over a three-year deal moving towards the finish line and Lincoln City bracing for life without the architect of one of the finest seasons in their history.

According to John Percy, negotiations between Skubala and the Robins are ongoing but advanced, leaving the Imps preparing for the prospect of losing a head coach who departs with the second-best win percentage the club has ever seen. For Lincoln, this isn’t just a change of manager. It is the potential end of a remarkable chapter.

From distant interest to first choice again

When Bristol City first came calling a couple of weeks ago, the noise around Skubala didn’t feel especially ominous. The initial approach looked more like due diligence than a direct threat to Lincoln’s dugout. That changed quickly.

Momentum swung when James Ellis, a close friend of Skubala, walked into Ashton Gate as sporting director. Suddenly, the dots were easier to join. Skubala was no longer just on a list; he was firmly in the conversation.

Then the story veered in another direction. Bristol City moved for their preferred candidate, Tommy Elphick, last week. Inside the game, the feeling was that the Robins had their man. Reports emerged suggesting Skubala was instead on the verge of signing a new deal with Lincoln, ready to build on the foundations he had laid.

The twist came just as the dust seemed to settle. Elphick, by all accounts, turned down the chance to take charge at Ashton Gate, opting to remain at Dean Court under Bournemouth’s new manager. The plan Bristol City thought was in place suddenly collapsed.

The scramble began.

Attention swung straight back to Skubala on Wednesday. Talks accelerated. Now, with a three-year agreement close, it would be a surprise to see him leading Lincoln out for their pre-season friendlies. The Championship club look set to get their man at the second attempt.

Lincoln’s next move

If Skubala does go, Lincoln face a familiar but delicate challenge: keep the project intact while changing the figurehead.

The club have long worked with succession planning in mind. There is always a list, always a structure, always a next step. That is how Lincoln have operated through their recent rise, and there is little reason to think this will be any different.

A swift appointment would not be a sign of panic. It would be a sign of preparation.

Internally, the case for continuity is strong. The current set-up under Skubala is collaborative rather than dominated by a single voice. That lends itself to an internal elevation rather than a complete reset. The idea of Tom Shaw and Chris Cohen stepping up into a more senior role fits that model: everyone moves up a rung, the philosophy remains, and the gap is filled from within the existing framework.

The Brentford blueprint

The temptation, when a successful head coach leaves, is to chase a big name from the managerial merry-go-round. Lincoln have a different template available.

Brentford showed how powerful a clear succession plan can be. Dean Smith built a vibrant, progressive side there. When he left, they did not tear anything up. They promoted Thomas Frank from within the existing structure, maintaining style, standards and culture.

Frank then took them into the Premier League. When he moved on, Brentford again stayed true to their model, elevating set-piece coach Keith Andrews to the top job. The result? A club that has finished in the top ten of the Premier League in three of the last four seasons, without ever needing to lurch for a headline appointment.

That is the kind of calm, joined-up thinking Lincoln can lean on now. No need for a “get Wanrock in” social media sideshow. No need to rip up a system that has taken them this far. The next head coach can walk into a club he already understands: the players, the ownership, the expectations, the culture.

A new era on and off the pitch

Lincoln’s rise has been defined by smart decisions and a clear identity. Skubala has played a major role in that, lifting performances to a level many supporters would argue is the best the club has ever produced.

If he walks away for the Championship, he does so with his stock high and his impact undeniable.

For the Imps, the challenge is not to replicate Skubala the individual, but to protect and evolve the structure that allowed him to thrive. Their Championship era may be beginning in the stands and on the pitch. It now looks increasingly likely it will begin with a new face in the technical area as well.