Imps boss Danny Cowley discusses the changes over the past few days at Board level at Lincoln City Football Club.
Bob Dorrian stood down as Chairman of the Imps on Monday, with Clive Nates and Roger Bates taking control as Chairman and Co-Chairman respectively.
The Imps boss has been impressed with the work of Clive and Roger since his arrival in the summer of 2016.
“Delighted that we’ve appointed within, because I feel that we’ve got some brilliant people at this football club,” Cowley said.
“The thing which impresses Nicky and I about Clive the most is his incredible business acumen. He is so intuitive, he has unbelievable attention to detail, and since the moment we met him has just been incredibly impressive as a businessman and as a person.
“While Roger has worked really hard within his role at the Academy, and pretty much kept the Academy alive single handedly during our National League time.
“First and foremost, he’s a die hard supporter, he loves talking about the football, and he’s someone who’s got the club at heart. He’s desperate for the club to be successful, and I know he’ll work extremely hard for the club to enjoy sustained success.
“I look at their partnership and the qualities that they bring, and think that they will be really good for us. There won’t be a football club in the country, at any level, that has the business acumen that we now have at the very top of our football club."
The on-field success of the last two seasons under Danny and Nicky has led enabled growth off the pitch too, namely with the development of our Elite Performance Centre, and Danny was quick to reiterate the key role Clive has played in these developments.
“I look at the club, and the direction that we’ve gone in the journey that we’ve been on in the last two years, and even though Clive doesn’t live in the country, you’ll be amazed by the influence he has had on the football club,” Cowley added.
“Now the fact he’s chairman, I’m sure that influence will only grow and grow. He’s a tough person to work for, but he’s a pleasure to work with. We know that the football club is in the very best hands.
The appointment follows on from Bob’s decision to step down as Chairman into a role as Associate Director, and Danny was quick to realise the role Bob has played in the club’s recent success.
“He’s been incredibly supportive of Nicky and I since we took over, and we’ll be forever thankful for all of his support.”
Bob spent eight years at the helm at Sincil Bank, after taking control in 2010, and will be notably remembered for building the foundations for the recent success under Danny and Nicky.
“It would have been a tough start for him, he pretty much picked up a sinking ship and if it hadn’t been for him, his hard work and his financial contribution then we wouldn’t have a football club. So he deserves immense credit, which I am sure he will get from the Lincoln people,” Danny added.
“When the club was on its knees, it needed someone who loved the club but also had the financial clout to keep its head above your water.
“If it hadn’t been for that, then we wouldn’t have had the success we’ve had in the last two seasons, and I’m pleased that he’s been able to enjoy those successes and play a key part in them.”
