LINCOLN CITY boss Danny Cowley has expressed his delight after top scorer Matt Rhead penned a new deal with the National League club.
The 32-year-old looked set to leave Sincil Bank earlier this summer after handing in a transfer request with Barrow, managed by Rhead’s former Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox, reportedly interested.
However, Rhead has now committed his future to Lincoln, signing a one-year contract extension that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2017-18 campaign.
It’s a big boost to the Imps and new boss Cowley, who hoped he could convince the striker to remain at Sincil Bank.
It’s no surprise Cowley wanted to keep the big target man – he scored 23 times in the National League last season to finish as the club’s top scorer.
“It’s something we’ve been working on all summer so we’re delighted to get it over the line,” the boss told the Lincolnshire Echo.
“We know what Matt can bring to the club. You’ve only got to look at the teams who have won the league in the past five years. They’ve all had goalscoring target men and Matt is one of those. He had 20 goals before Christmas prior to picking up his injury.
“At times during the summer I didn’t think it was going to be possible, so the fact he’s staying is a massive lift for everyone at the football club. He’s going to be a massively important player for us this season. For us, it feels like a new signing.”
