Cowling planning perfect handover

Cowling, at the helm for the last six years while restoring the club's fortunes on and off the field, announced he was stepping down at Ashby Avenue after the Whites narrowly missed out on promotion following their 3-2 defeat in the EVO-STIK NPL First Division South play-off semi-final at Shaw Lane Aquaforce.

Since taking over and spearheading the launch of their 'KICKOFF' long-term strategic plan, Cowling, pictured, has overseen steady progress on the field under manager Dave Frecklington and he is determined to leave with their manager safely secured for the 2016-17 season.

In his message to fans announcing his decision, the 69-year-old, pictured, said: “It’s not an easy decision to leave a great club like Lincoln United but now is the right time for a younger person to come in and take it on to the next level. I will stand down at the club’s AGM in July by which time we will be ready for the 2016-17 season and another tilt at promotion.

“Dave has done an excellent job since taking over three years ago but he has found it extremely challenging to balance the demands of his family life and his business with what is almost a full-time job managing United.

"He and the players are still coming to terms with the disappointment of missing out on promotion but they have given us the best season in the club’s recent history and we are all extremely proud of the players and the management team.

"I’ll sit down with Dave, along with Allen and Ian, and we’ll hopefully secure his services for next season when Lincoln United fully intend to have another go at promotion.”

The club's fans are currently enjoying a newly released fly-on-the-wall documentary produced by two media students from Lincoln University who've been 'resident' at Ashby this season. Their outgoing chairman credits the hard work of everyone connected with the club for United’s revival and said he felt privileged to have been part of it.

Cowling, who joined the club's committee in 2010, is also backing his successor, local businessman and fellow committee member Ian Beaumont who has been heading up the club's youth development.

He said: “When I and the other new committee members came on board, things were pretty desperate but we managed to stabilise the situation and put a long-term plan in place to restore the club’s fortunes, on and off the field.

"This season has been our best, so far, but it comes at a price, for everyone involved, in terms of time, effort and finance and it’s time for someone younger to take the reins. Ian has agreed to take over the chair and I’m sure he’ll do a great job."

He added: "He is fortunate, just as I am, to have some excellent colleagues supporting him, especially people like Allen and Sue Crombie who have done more than anyone to turn the club round. Allen is a former Lincoln City and Boston United player and he has also played for and managed Lincoln United.

"He is very experienced in non-league football and, as the club’s director of football, he has played a pivotal role in the club’s revival. His wife, Sue, is the driving force off the field heading up the club’s hospitality and social events.”

Entitled 'What it Takes', the Whites documentary is available to watch under the videos and photos tab on the home page or by clicking here: http://youtu.be/ufzcIRnQXEk

Image courtesy of www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk

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