Mide Shodipo has left following the expiry of his contract, Jack Vale has returned to Championship side Blackburn Rovers and Freddie Draper has been recalled from League Two side Walsall. Morgan Worsfold-Gregg has left the Imps to pursue further education at a university in America and Julian Donnery has left at the expiry of his two-year scholarship.
NEW QUIZ: How much can you remember about the matches we played in December? Click HERE to have a go or have a go at the bottom of the page!
You can discuss the departures HERE and the return of Freddie Draper HERE!
Reaction to the departures:
sedgleyimp: “No surprise with any there. Vale been a bit unlucky being asked to play in a role he wasn’t really suited to. Mido was clearly just a stop-gap though perhaps one who might have been used a bit more. The other two were signposted as leaving a while back.”
hulloutpost: “Doesn’t change much really in so much as they are all fringe/youth players and the last two coaches had already decided Vale wasn’t the answer to the question.
It will at least likely free up a wage for an incoming of a reasonable level.”
Rasenimp: “No surprises there then (although reassuring in a way if we’ve sent Vale back that some forwards will be on the way).
Vale was disappointing, especially as someone we signed while injured and couldn’t be involved for almost two months… sadly not worth the wait. He wasn’t an out-and-out 9 and buzzed around a little bit without ever looking seriously threatening. The Blackburn fans’ comments were very unfavourable about him from last season albeit a level up, but sadly did little to convince.
It wouldn’t shock me if he was on loan somewhere else either bottom L1 or L2 and he puts up 1 in 20 type numbers.
Shodipo I know was signed as an extra body and someone who could hit the ground running but still think he should have played a little more. Not sure where he will pitch up. Not a world-beater but we’ve had worse players IMO and at least he has some sort of tangible record at this level. I suspect there hasn’t been much intention of extending that deal for a while, hence the lack of minutes. If he went and played in L2 for half a season suspect he could do pretty well but he clearly didn’t want to take any lower-down offers in the summer.
Tough being an attacker for us over the last 18 months or so too, which makes it harder to objectively value a contribution I think.”
Reaction to the return of Draper:
Rasenimp: “Delighted, can’t wait to see him playing for us. Was starting to think that wasn’t the plan!
He’s a lad playing with confidence and one who I think the fans will be onside with immediately. Excited to see him again and hope Skubala and Co can find a way of supplying him, Jack and Reeco (and anyone else who comes in!) with some ammunition. That’s the support I want to see!”
Skip155: “Must be an example of things being agreed days if not weeks in advance? No way would we leave it to the day before their fixture to recall him when we have no fixture of our own.”
imps_joe: “I hope people aren’t putting too many high expectations that his arrival will turn things around instantly. Still young, had a couple of injuries recently and he needs service to score.”
Four Players Depart & Draper Recalled – Reaction:https://t.co/1FwHs31EGS#WeAreImps #Rovers #Saddlers
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) January 5, 2024
