Why Michael Skubala has to consider Tendayi Darikwa for big Lincoln City role in 2025/26 - it makes total sense | OneFootball

Lincoln City are without a captain after Paudie O’Connor turned down a new contract.

Lincoln City are without a captain after Paudie O’Connor turned down a new contract.

The Imps skipper moved to Reading, with his position now needing to be filled at the LNER Stadium. Not only in the heart of defence, which has been helped by the signing of experienced centre-back Sonny Bradley, but in his captaincy as well.

He assumed the captaincy in the summer of 2023 under then-head coach Mark Kennedy, after previously holding the mantle at Bradford City.

However, there is one man that stands out among the potential candidates to replace O’Connor as Imps captain.

Tendayi Darikwa is a perfect candidate for Lincoln City captaincy

Former Wigan Athletic full-back Tendayi Darikwa is the perfect choice for Imps boss Michael Skubala, as he looks to assign the captaincy to a new player.

He won both the player of the season and player’s player of the season awards, making him popular with both fans and his teammates at City. Both of those stand him in good stead when it comes to being a captain. To lead, you must be popular with those alongside you as well as those supporting you.

The Zimbabwe international is one of the most experienced players in the Lincoln squad, with a slew of younger players in the City ranks.

He played 44 of the 46 Sky Bet League One games in his debut season at the LNER Stadium, making him a mainstay and a consistent force despite his age.

Across all competitions, his tally rises to 50 games. That is an important characteristic for a captain, as having a skipper who does not play for the vast majority of the time is a detriment to the team overall.

Other options to replace Paudie O’Connor

Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah noted that the reason he turned down the capacity of the Test team was because his injury issues meant he would not always be available.

Bumrah, who is the number one ranked bowler in world cricket, has all the qualities you would want from a skipper. But, his recent injury history has meant he has not taken up the role.

In a roundabout way that applies to the potential candidates Skubala has at his disposal.

The likes of Adam Jackson, who skippered Lincoln on occasion when O’Connor was absent last season, does not have a flawless injury record. That is a mark against him because having a captain who does not play consistently is not helpful in ensuring a steady flow of messaging to a squad.

New signing Bradley is an experienced head, as is striker James Collins, but they each fall below Darikwa in the potential list of options.

Despite Bradley’s EFL experience, it would be a tall ask for him to immediately become the captain, because you must earn the respect of your teammates first.

As for Collins, he falls into the same category as Jackson, in terms of a lack of consistent gametime. He has become more of a mainstay as time has passed since his January signing, but Lincoln have a wealth of attacking options that could see him rotated in and out.

That cannot be said for Darikwa, who is the perfect replacement for O'Connor as Imps skipper. Not only for his consistency and experience, but for the trust he clearly has from teammates and fans alike.