Chairman challenges Whites boss

Lincoln United chairman Malcolm Cowling has challenged manager Terry Fleming to put the club back on the football map, the Lincolnshire Echo is reporting today.

The Whites endured a disappointing 2011-12 campaign which saw them finish 18th in Evo-Stik NPL First Division South.

Cowling says that was not good enough and is expecting a better return this season.

"On the field, it was disappointing. We finished further down the league than we did the previous season," Cowling told the paper's website.

The chairman, who took over in November, insisted: "That's not acceptable. We wanted last year to be a season of consolidation. We saw good performances in some games, but in other games we saw a completely different Lincoln United.

"I and the board have set Terry and Darren [Darren Dye, assistant manager] a challenge to put this club back on the footballing map as we want players to feel proud to wear that shirt.

"We are realistic. We don't pay the biggest expenses, we're probably one of the lowest in the division, but we expect them to put a shift in. We've told Terry and Darren to forget last season. Let's start seeing some performances and let's move forward."

The Whites' season has got off to the worst possible start with a 6-2 home defeat to Sheffield FC followed by a 5-1 loss at Stamford on Tuesday night.

United return to Evo-Stik NPL action at home to Carlton Town on Monday and on Saturday face a possible giant-killing when Thurnby Nirvana FC arrive at Ashby Avenue in the FA Cup Preliminary Round.