Former Oxford United boss Michael Appleton is believed to be in talks with Lincoln City about becoming their next manager.
The former midfielder has not been the head honcho in the dugout since leaving the U’s in 2017 to become the assistant to Craig Shakespeare at Leicester City, with the exception of a two-game caretaker role with the Foxes following Shakespeares dismissal.
He has remained patient and spoke last year about being happy to wait for the right opportunity.
“Things obviously change quickly in football, but my aspirations have always been the same. I want to get as high as I possibly can.
“As a player, my opportunity to do that was cut short [by a serious knee injury]. But, as a manager, I’ve got plenty of time.
“I’ll wait as long as it takes for that right opportunity to come around again.”
Lincoln could be just that given the club’s current position and strength of squad. The likes of Jack Payne and Jorge Grant are also the kind of individuals capable of playing in the style Appleton would want to implement.
Mike Flynn is now out of the running after ruling himself out, leaving the former Manchester United, Preston and West Brom midfielder leading the way to take charge.
Appleton is widely considered to be the best manager Oxford have had in recent memory and following a difficult first season in which the club finished 13th in League Two, he took them to League One and to two EFL Trophy finals.