Why Taylor would be right to say no to Lincoln advances

It is only mid-September and the football season is not even two months old but the manager merry go round is already in full swing. A whole host of managers in the top four tiers of the English game have left their roles and there is a growing sense that the  Exeter City hot seat might be available soon too. If we were Matt Taylor we’d stay put – at least for the time being.

Taylor has been mentioned in connection with the vacancy at Sincil Bank after Danny Cowley stepped up to take charge at Championship side Huddersfield Town. Taylor has insisted he’s happy at Exeter and the Grecian's board have rebuffed the advances of the Imps, but you should not read too much into talk in the world of football.

Lincoln have been on a tremendous rise since appointing Cowley, along with his brother Nick, in May 2016. In his first full season he took his side to the National League title and subsequently won promotion to League Two. The step up was expected to be a tough transition but Lincoln finished seventh and sprang a surprise in the EFL Trophy by beating Shrewsbury in the Wembley showpiece. Another season of success followed and Cowley lead Lincoln into League One – as Champions again.

There was a sense of Deja Vu as pre-season got under way as people predicted it a step too far for Lincoln. They made a solid start to the campaign before Cowley has lured away to the Terriers. Now that’s a lot of talk about Lincoln, when you are perhaps wondering why the focus isn’t on Exeter. Still,Cowley’s journey is exactly what Taylor should be looking at. 

Taylor replaced Paul Tisdale after an unsuccessful play-off campaign and since his appointment he’s made a good name for himself. Last season he guided the Grecian’s to a ninth-place finish in League Two despite being forced to sell his star striker, Jayden Stockley, to Preston North End in the January window.

He clearly has all of the players on board with his ideas and the new season has started with an eight-match unbeaten run – won five, drawn three – leaving Exeter as the only team yet to lose a match and top of the league. If the team can continue with anything like that form throughout the next period,they’ll likely be well in the promotion mix come the end of the season.

Now think about how Cowley is regarded by the Lincoln fans. He’s worshipped. If Taylor made that move not only would his record in Exeter be looked at as simply ‘reasonable’ but he could quickly find himself looking over his shoulder. 

Lincoln are riding the crest of a wave at the moment. It would have eventually stalled under Cowley but any new gaffer will be compared to him and – given what Cowley achieved – there will only be one winner and the loser will be a scapegoat for any poor form that is hit.

For us, it’s about timing for Taylor. Think about college football in the States; their star players are being scouted by NFL teams throughout their education. Still, they’ll regularly stay with their schools to achieve personal and team goals before taking that next big step with their place in the history books assured and Taylor should do the same. 

Imagine how Taylor would be revered by the Grecian fan base if he proves his loyalty to their club. He would be like a jockey winning his first race at the Breeders Cup classic.

He made over 100 appearances as a player and has made solid progress in the managerial role. If he continues the early season results and guides Exeter to promotion, there is absolutely no reason why that momentum cannot help stabilising the side in League One – just as Lincoln look set to do. It would be a huge achievement and then, if bigger fish came calling, the fans would pat him on the back and send him on his way – as a legend of the club.