Lincoln City can still turn Sam Clucas failure into a success - here is how | OneFootball

To say Sam Clucas’ fairytale return to Lincoln City did not meet expectations would be an understatement.

To say Sam Clucas’ fairytale return to Lincoln City did not meet expectations would be an understatement.

The Imps faithful were thrilled when the news of a hometown lad returning to the club where it all began trickled through.

Clucas, now 34, moved from non-league Oldham Athletic to Sincil Bank in January.

However, he managed just eight appearances in the months that followed as conspiracy theories and hard questions arose in place of what fans hoped to be a consistent flow of gametime in the second half of the Sky Bet League One campaign.

The fairytale return that never got off the ground

In truth, it was a return that never got going.

That can be explained by the reasons behind his arrival in the first place. As Michael Skubala revealed in an appearance on BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Red Imps Club podcast, there was a concern that not one, but two, of Lincoln’s central midfielder could leave in January.

So, to simplify the explanation that the Imps head coach gave, Clucas was brought in to add to the squad in case one, or both, of the midfielders who were attracting interest did indeed exit the club.

That demonstrates why Clucas never got much of a chance in the Lincoln squad. He was not needed.

As neither of the two unnamed midfielders departed in the winter transfer window, Clucas then became surplus to requirements for much of his return spell in Lincolnshire.

That being said, when he did play there was no doubting Clucas’ ability. He netted direct from a corner away to Mansfield Town in one of his eight appearances, and sparkled on the ball when he was given the chance to.

On his home debut, against Burton Albion, Clucas had a dream goal disallowed. He slalomed through the Brewers midfield and defence like an expert skier sliding down a mountain, before slotting the ball home, only to see an off-the-ball foul ruin his piece of magic.

That was a glimpse of his capabilities, as he shone and rewound the clock in Lincoln colours.

Sam Clucas could still benefit Lincoln City

Despite his return never quite becoming what many fans hoped it would be, and his lack of games paving the way for mad conspiracy and social media speculation, there may still be hope for Clucas at Lincoln yet.

Some online punters dreamed that a rift between director of football Jez George and Imps head coach Skubala was the reason why Clucas was signed but rarely played, while others imagined a clause in his contract that would be triggered if another appearance was made.

In the end, it was much more simple than that - a transfer made in case of emergency, as it were, with the worst-case scenario not materialising.

But, Clucas can put all that behind him now. He was released from Imps' annual retained list, opting to extend his playing career instead of taking up a coaching role. The club, though, made it clear that the door was left open for the former Hull City and Stoke City midfielder to return in an off-the-field capacity.

He would surely be a good coach, an experienced player who has plied his trade at the very top of the English game and one that has made no secret of his desire to help the next generation grow.

Maybe, despite a Lincoln