It’s business as usual for the Imps as Rhead & Co ignore boss speculation

STRIKER Matt Rhead insists leaders Lincoln are not worried about speculation linking boss Danny Cowley with a move away from Sincil Bank.

Cowley (right) has been commanding attention after success over the last couple of years with the Imps winning the National League and Football League Trophy and making the FA Cup quarter-finals.

On Saturday they swatted aside Port Vale 6-2 to claim their fifth win in six games and 10th league victory from 13.

Cowley is being linked with Brentford following Dean Smith’s move to Aston Villa.

But Rhead is just looking ahead with the League Two leaders.

“I don’t think it’s something we talk about,” he said.

“To be fair, we are obviously focusing on each game. I think that is the main thing, we focus on each game as it comes.

“Hopefully at the end of the season we will be in the top three and the gaffer always keeps our feet on the ground and that is the main thing.”

Lincoln were remorseless at Vale Park, brushing aside their hosts who could not live with their high-tempo approach and threats from all over the pitch.

Rhead said: “He uses the word relentless quite regularly and that is what he portrays to the lads and I think you can see the way we go about our business – he demands.

“The goals we conceded he was really disappointed about so I think that is what you have to capitalise on.”

Opposite number Neil

Aspin held a two-hour inquest after the game as the Valiants lost their third successive league game to lie 16th.

While insisting he was not about to quit, he pulled no punches, saying: “I’ve been in football since I was 16 and I’m 53 so it’s been a long time. This is probably the worst I have felt.

“It doesn’t make me walk away because that is easy.

“It hurts your pride because the result reflects on you as a manager and it does hurt.

“I don’t think it will be the first time I’ll hear, ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ because I’ve heard that before and as a manager that is one thing you are going to have to contend with after a result like that.

“I think the manager will take responsibility for results but the players always have to look at themselves.

“If they can go home and accept that result and that performance then you’d have to be very disappointed.

“I’ve got more faith in them as a group to think it will hurt them.

“It’s all about how they respond to that.”

Goalkeeper Scott Brown also called on his teammates to put on a united front and to take responsibility. He said: “Do you want to show some balls and fight – fight for your place, fight for your career and see how much you want it?

“Everyone from the kitman to the chef. Everyone at the football club needs to do their most to help the lads on the pitch and get what they can from each game.

“At the end of the day the boys are playing for their livelihoods and the fans pay their hardearned money to come up and down the country.”