Swann: I nearly joined Lincoln

Former Gainsborough Trinity chairman Peter Swann has publicly admitted that he was on the verge of joining the board of Lincoln City last month as he took up the chairmanship of Imps’ rivals Scunthorpe United today.

Following a five-year stint at Trinity, where he bankrolled the Northolme outfit before parting ways with the Blues at the end of the season, it was rumoured that Swann was courted by Lincoln City chairman Bob Dorrian, where they allegedly shook hands on a deal to bring him to the Bank as a director for one year before being handed total control in year two.

In his first interview since taking up his new role at Glanford Park, Swann, whose wife Karin is joint-chairman of retail company Wilkinson and whose family are reported to be worth £340million, admitted he was close to making the move to Lincoln. He said: ‘I spoke to Lincoln City, and spoke to their chairman Bob Dorrian at length – hidden away at a pub in Lincoln for a few hours – and pretty much decided to come on the board.

‘Then a few days later I was asked if I would be interested in joining the Scunthorpe board by Keith Wagstaff and I said I’d love to. I’d received an offer from Lincoln City, who wanted me to join them, but I decided to listen to what Scunthorpe were offering because I’d always wanted to join a league club. The chairman role then developed over the final weekend in April.’