Lincoln City has today announced their retained list for the 22/23 season.
In the least surprising news of the season, Regan Poole will leave the Imps to pursue an opportunity higher up in the football pyramid. Director of Football Jez George said, “We have done everything possible to keep Regan at the club but he wants to explore options at a higher level and we fully respect that. Regan has been brilliant for Lincoln City, captaining the team on many occasions, including on his final appearance at the LNER Stadium on Sunday, and is held in high esteem by everyone. We sincerely wish Regan all the best in the next chapter of his career, thank him for everything and hope that he gets the opportunity he deserves at a higher level of the football pyramid.”
The Imps also announced that Max Sanders and Joe Walsh will leave when their deals expire at the end of the season. Sanders signed for the Imps in January 2021, has gone on to play 63 times and was part of the team that reached the Play-off final in 2021. Max went on to have a difficult year under Michael Appleton, before coming into good form under Mark Kennedy but as the season has gone on and the signing of Ethan Erhahon came in, Max will now been given the chance to move on to pastures new.
Joe Walsh will leave too, after playing just 52 times for the club. Despite being an extremely talented defender, injuries have cost Joe a great deal of playing time, especially over the past two seasons and with Lewis Montsma’s long-term injury, Mark Kennedy will be looking at availability as a key factor in any new defensive recruits next season.
“We also thank Max and Joe for their contribution to the club over the past three years. Both of them have been through difficult periods but have consistently demonstrated a strength of character and commitment to the cause.
Jez George commented on both Sanders and Walsh and wished them the best “Joe has repeatedly put his body on the line, notably in the League One play-off semi-final and final, and Max showed his undoubted ability right up to his final appearance on Sunday. Both are quality players and good people, and we wish them well in their futures.”
As expected, Carl Rushworth, Harry Boyes, Matty Virtue, Mide Shodipo, Luke Plange and Tashan Oakley-Boothe will return to their parent clubs.
The Imps have offered young defender Sean Roughan a new deal, a massive signal of intent, and have agreed a new deal with academy graduate Hayden Cann.
I’d like to place on record my thanks to Max and Joe for their hard work over the past few years, as well as the loan players. I’d also would like to wish Regan all the best too, I have been lucky enough to spend some time with him since his arrival at the club and I can comfortably say he is one of the nicest people I’ve spoken to, he was a credit to the football club and if you’ve had the chance to talk to him, then it won’t come as a surprise to why he was made club captain in January. Regan adored Lincoln City and Lincoln City adored him. He will go on to make a really good Championship defender and he really deserves that chance.