Not only is it the onset of the festive season, but also down at Sincil Bank the silly season has already burst open its doors, with more transfer gossip doing the rounds than you can imagine.
Previously, talk had been centred around Imps boss Keith Alexander?s futile attempts of bringing a new striker on board, but the temporary transfer deadline came and went without a sniff of new arrivals.
But that wasn?t through wont of trying, with Alexander producing a long list of possibles as he attempted to breathe new life into his ailing strikeforce.
Number one target was Macclesfield?s big frontman Jon Parkin, but Alexander claimed he required a king?s ransom to head east and the club couldn?t afford to bring him on board. Then there was Drewe Broughton, of Rushden & Diamonds, who thankfully politely declined City?s interest as he wanted to remain at Nene Park, get back to match fitness and do the business there ? or so he claimed. .
The carrot of first-team football was proffered to Paul Peschisolido, the veteran Canadian international at Derby, but he couldn?t lower himself to City?s standard, while Alexander also tentatively inquired about Manchester United pair Giuseppe Rossi and Kenny Cooper, but then thought better of it.
The Imps boss then lowered his scope of vision and went a-hunting in the Conference and contacted Kidderminster regarding Iyseden Christie, but yet again Alexander was rebuffed in his advances.
And so came the 5pm cut-off point, with no new arrivals. But a couple of weeks later, the rumour-mill is getting clogged up with news of players leaving the Bank, with Lee Beevers possibly going to Crewe ? and will anyone shed a tear about his departure? ? and Gareth McAuley being linked with a switch to Nottingham Forest.
Paul Morgan?s name was also banded about, but that was probably fanciful stuff created by an eager poster on a messageboard ? at the rate we?re going, we won?t have any defenders left!
Then there?s the news that Steve Robinson believes his City career is over, with Alexander producing a typical classic comment: ?I don?t know why people think I want to get rid of him.? .
Er? maybe it?s something to do with the fact he has: a) loaned Robinson out to Worksop Town, and b) told him he can remain with the Conference North side for another month. This doesn?t smack of the actions of a manager who wants a player at the club, and naturally, Robinson rightfully believes his Sincil Bank career is over before it virtually began, which would be a crying shame as City are crying out for someone with a bit of experience and nous.
Finally, the news that Simon Yeo is packing his bags and returning to Blighty after an indifferent spell in New Zealand. His career with NZ Knights has not been a complete failure ? indeed, he has scored a few goals since he?s been there, but playing for the worst side in the Australian A-League has made him pine for his homeland.
But will he make a hero?s return to the Bank? It?s obvious that the majority of supporters will be delighted to see him back, but it looks like City will have some competition, namely from Oxford United who are rumoured to be offering the 32-year-old a three-year deal.
Other sides likely to be interested are Stockport County, Rochdale and possibly Oldham, all clubs based near his spiritual homeland and a part of the country Yeo is keen to return to. That would possibly rule out a move to Oxford, but then again a few months ago he upped and left for a town on the other side of the world, so you cannot rule any club out at present.
With City struggling to reap the rewards from an ineffective strikeforce, Yeo could be the man to bring the spark back to the side and Alexander should persuade the board to go out on a limb and offer him what he wants to return. If the likes of Boston and Macclesfield can pay silly money to their star players, then why can?t we? It?s not as if the club has just announced ANOTHER profit or anything, is it?
