Ahead of the final fixture of the season, Mark Kennedy reflected on the season passed, and his personal development and gave an insight as to where the Imps will look to be strengthening next year.
Lewis Montsma: MK confirmed LM has injured the same ACL as the last time. It is bitterly disappointing for Lewis who is so talented and is the ultimate professional through his work ethic and conduct.
“He’s got the full support of us. We think the world of him. We’ll do everything we can to make sure he gets the love and support and help to get back to where he was”.
Post-operation, rehabilitation will be long-term with no time scales applied.
Contract Situation and Recruitment: MK did not comment on individual contracts regarding existing players but overall feels in a good place.
“I’m quite comfortable where we are with every player”.
People will be leaving for pastures new due to a multitude of reasons but the Imps have in place a brilliant recruitment team that work as hard, if not harder than anybody else.
“I’m confident going into the summer”.
MK wasn’t able to outline specific numbers but was clear that he was looking to strengthen all over the pitch, referencing centre halves, midfield, numbers 7 and 11 and striking options. In an ideal world his wish would be for the recruitment to be sorted very quickly, although essentially that remains in ‘the lap of the gods’.
Observations and Personal Development: MK highlighted some of his biggest learning had been understanding the division in terms of what the league looks like, the players and what works. ‘Everyone’ wants to play fancy utopian football but it is quite a difficult thing to do. What MK thought he could do and what the field looked like in reality, were very different.
“I’m definitely a lot more experienced and a lot more educated on the role, on the club, on the league, on the players. Just everything that surrounds being a head coach”.
MK felt he had learned a lot about himself personally in addition to matters such as player management.
It is a highly pressurised job with MK aware of the manager attrition rates within the game generally. He feels that he benefits from the board that is in place at Lincoln. Obviously not wanting to lose ‘your job’ is a concern for anybody and that is one of the things along with the ambition to be successful that is a driver for MK. If anything, the pressure (and bouts of anxiety) pushes MK to become and feel comfortable within uncomfortable positions. “I feel like I’ve earnt the right to be here and start again next year”.
“It’s the best job in the world and it’s also the toughest job in the world”. MK doesn’t see himself taking time off over the summer and why would he; other walks of life don’t get six weeks break. The players do though, need that break.
The season has been an amazing experience – fifty times better than he thought, with MK feeling lucky and privileged to work for a great club with great people.
“The club I’ve come and worked for this year has been everything that Clive and the board said it would be”.
