Michael Skubala looks ahead to first game as new Lincoln City Head Coach
Lincoln City’s new head coach Michael Skubala has been speaking to media ahead of The Imps’ game away at Stevenage today
Michael Skubala will take charge of his first Lincoln City game today after taking the job on Monday.
The head coach took over for 3 matches at Leeds on an interim basis.
Skubala, 41, has never been permanent head coach of a senior side in his career, but does have a good reputation for developing young talent.
He will look to do that for the Imps, and he had praise for his new employers in his press conference on Thursday.
He said: “It’s actually got a really good reputation for growing in the right way, and to come and be part of that journey is really exciting”.
Skubala has experienced first team management in the Premier League, albeit for a three-game interim spell at Leeds United.
Despite a short time there, he said that will help him in League One.
He said: “I think it gives you the level, it gives you what it takes to be at the top level of the game, for players, managers, and it’s an unbelievable experience”.
He referenced taking charge of Leeds at Old Trafford in front of 75,000 fans, where he was able to earn his only point for the Yorkshire side.
Skubala started his coaching career whilst teaching PE at a Secondary School and College, but he was eventually spotted by the FA while director of football at Loughborough University.
The Nottingham-born coach also mentioned he was excited to work with a young group at Lincoln, likely suiting both parties this season as they push for promotion from League One.
He believes this is possible:
“I think it would be brilliant to get Lincoln up into the Championship, but I think it’s going to take a while, it’s not something that happens overnight but if you want to put a long term goal in, I think that’s got to be all of our challenges”.
Lincoln City travel southwards to Stevenage today, a promoted side who sit in the playoff places, six points above the Imps.
On the challenge they’ll pose, he said: “It’s a tough place to go, we know where they are in the league, we know how dominant they are at home, so I think it’s going to be a real strong, tough game for us to try and get some points out of”.
Kick-off at Broadhall Way is at 3pm today.