Michael Skubala Closing in on Bristol City Job

Michael Skubala is closing in on the Bristol City job, with talks over a three-year deal understood to be at an advanced stage – a move that would leave Lincoln City searching for a new head coach after one of the most impressive seasons in their history.

According to reports, negotiations between Skubala and the Robins are ongoing, but the outlines of an agreement are believed to be in place. If signed off, it would draw a line under a spell at Sincil Bank that has delivered the second-best win percentage of any manager in the club’s history and a campaign many around Lincoln would argue is their finest.

A pursuit that refused to die

This has not been a straightforward courtship. Bristol City’s first approach a couple of weeks ago barely registered as a genuine threat in some quarters. It felt speculative, a club testing the water rather than ready to dive in.

Then the landscape shifted.

James Ellis, a close friend of Skubala, arrived at Ashton Gate as sporting director. The dynamic changed overnight. Skubala moved from being one of several names to a serious contender, his work at Lincoln suddenly under a brighter, sharper spotlight.

Just as the move seemed to be gathering pace, Bristol City appeared to close the book. The Robins turned to their preferred option, Tommy Elphick, last week and moved to appoint him. At that point, the expectation around Lincoln was that Skubala might even commit his future to the Imps, with some outlets suggesting he was edging towards a new deal.

Then came the twist.

Elphick, it was reported, rejected the chance to take charge at Ashton Gate, choosing instead to remain at Dean Court under the new regime there. Bristol City’s carefully drawn plan evaporated in an instant, and the search swung back to Skubala.

The response was swift. City reopened talks, pushed hard, and now look set to get their man. Barring a late collapse, it would be a major surprise to see Skubala in the Lincoln dugout by the time pre-season friendlies come around.

Life after Skubala: Lincoln’s next move

For Lincoln, the question is no longer whether Skubala stays. It is what comes next.

The club has not hidden its belief in planning and structure. Behind every head coach, there is a succession plan – sometimes a shortlist, sometimes a clearly defined first choice. The expectation, given how the club has evolved in recent years, is that the appointment process will be sharp and decisive, but not rushed in the panicked sense.

Speed, in this case, would be a sign of preparation, not desperation.

There will be plenty of outside noise, of course. Names from the managerial merry-go-round will be thrown into the conversation, familiar figures touted as safe hands. Lincoln’s recent history suggests they may choose a different path.

One internal solution stands out. The current set-up under Skubala has been notably collaborative, with influence shared rather than concentrated in one voice. In that context, elevating from within – figures such as Tom Shaw and Chris Cohen – would preserve the culture and continuity that has underpinned the club’s rise.

The idea is simple: shift the existing structure up a level and strengthen underneath it, rather than tearing it up and starting again.

A Brentford-style blueprint

If Lincoln want a model to follow, they do not need to look far. Brentford have long been held up as a benchmark for smart succession planning.

Dean Smith built an excellent side there. When he left, Brentford did not chase a big name from outside. They promoted Thomas Frank from within the coaching staff. Frank then took them into the Premier League. When he moved on, the club again looked internally, handing the reins to set-piece coach Keith Andrews.

The result? Brentford have finished in the top ten of the Premier League in three of the last four seasons. No scramble. No short-term fix. Just a smooth handover, with each head coach stepping into a club they already understood – the players, the owners, the demands, the culture.

Lincoln, with their data-led approach and clear identity, are well placed to attempt something similar. They do not need to “get Wanrock in” or reach for a fashionable name to satisfy social media. They need to protect what they have built and choose a coach who can grow it.

For now, the Imps wait, watching events at Ashton Gate with a mix of resignation and quiet confidence. Their Championship era already promised to be a new chapter on the pitch.

It may now usher in a new era in the dugout as well.