Two Contract Options Exercised, But Four Depart Sincil Bank

 Adam Jackson and Ben House will remain at Sincil Bank next season, as the club picked up options on both players.

Defender Jackson will start his sixth season as a Lincoln City player in August, shortly after passing his 31st birthday. After signing from Hibernian in 2019/20, the popular centre back has made 164 outings for the club, 143 of those coming in League One. Some felt he might be on the move this summer, me included, but I’m delighted he isn’t, as he has looked really comfortable alongside Tom Hamer in a flat back four.

Striker House didn’t set the world alight in terms of goals this season, just six, but he too suits the new 4-2-3-1 formation. The 25-year-old has been with us for three-and-a-half seasons, scoring 22 times in 116 appearances. His most porlific campaign came in 2022/23, where he bagged 12 league goals in 38 outings.

There are four players departing Sincil Bank, with a total of just 45 appearances between them. 23-year-old Jay Benn spent last season on loan with Bradford with moderate success, but looked most comfortable in the National League with Solihull Moors. Ali Smith also spent last season out on loan, scoring six and assisting twice as AFC Wimbledon made the play-offs. However, it’s always been clear there was no pathway back for Smith, and he’ll not be short of suitors this summer.

Tyler Walker’s departure is no surprise. The injury-plagued striker failed to score in his second Imps spell, appearing just eight times across two seasons. He appeared just once this campaign and spent the end of the season with Wealdstone, where, unfortunately, he also picked up an injury.

Finally, and perhaps most controversially, Sam Clucas will also leave the club. Sam came here in January, but after eight appearances and one goal, he’s now looking for a new club. It’s been made clear we’ve offered him a pathway into coaching when he is ready, but he wants to carry on his playing career, and will look for a new club to do so. That will doubtless split opinion, with the usual differing voices across social media arguing.

I’m disappointed we didn’t see more of Sam, but if we did sign him to cover Erhahon and possibly another midfielder, should late bids have come in, I can now understand us looking elsewhere for a longer-term replacement. Those hoping for an explosive tell-all interview where he blasts the club (you know who you are) are sure to be disappointed if he does have a coaching future with us.

Finally, negotiations continue with Paudie O’Connor and Sean Roughan, both linked with moves away from the club. There’s been a rumour this week that the club have agreed a deal for Roughan, but that doesn’t seem to be the case from this release, and there’s also a suggestion we haven’t given up on keeping our captain.

As mentioned in the earlier release about Charlie Parks and Gbolahan Okewoye, we are also in discussions with Zane Okoro, and we would retain a development fee interest in him, should he accept a contract elsewhere.

The official club statement read:

“Everyone at City would like to thank Jay Benn, Sam Clucas, Ali Smith and Tyler Walker after confirmation they will leave the club this summer.

“Benn, Clucas, Smith and Walker leave at the conclusion of their contracts.

“Clucas is keen to continue his playing career, but the Imps have made clear the door is open for him to start his coaching journey with the club when he is ready to do so.

“Adam Jackson and Ben House will remain with City after the club took up options to extend their deals.

“There are ongoing discussions with Paudie O’Connor and Sean Roughan, who are out of contract.”

Players Under Contract for 2025/26

Tom Bayliss

Zak Bradshaw

James Collins

Tendayi Darikwa

Freddie Draper

Ethan Erhahon

Oisin Gallagher

Reeco Hackett

Tom Hamer