News of fresh investment at Lincoln City's has been welcomed with open arms. Echo sports editor John Pakey reveals the hopes and concerns for the club's future

Lincoln City have finally plugged their struggling finances with an extra £500,000.

When the club was relegated from the Football League last summer they suffered a massive drop in finances, which chairman Bob Dorrian quoted at being over £1m.

The club was forced to make significant cuts which resulted in several members of staff being made redundant.

Now, though, the chairman has led a revival, with the fresh investment including a new business plan which they hope will entice extra investment.

The money has been raised via new share purchases and has been driven through by a consortium of shareholders who include Dorrian, Lincolnshire Co-operative, Lindum Group and with support from the other board members in David Parman, David Featherstone, Roger Bates, Kevin Cooke and Lincoln City Supporters' Trust.

Dorrian described the news as a 'new chapter'.

"This is a new chapter in the history of Lincoln City Football Club and gives the foundations and platform for a realistic business model for next season and thereafter," said Mr Dorrian.

"We have been looking for new investment in the club over the last few years and believe the new business model that has been created is far more attractive to new investors.

"It also forms part of the restructuring that has taken place since the club's relegation from The Football League and is certainly something to build upon going forward.

"On behalf of the board of directors I wish to thank Lincoln City Supporters' Trust for their help and involvement in this business model as without their assistance this fresh investment would not have been possible."

It is a swift turnaround from six months ago when Dorrian was fighting for his future.

In July a group of shareholders forced an emergency general meeting (EGM) and tabled a motion for Dorrian and the rest of the board to step down.

One of the shareholders behind the EGM, Keith Roe has welcomed the new investment and labelled it a positive step.

"First of all, it is fantastic gesture of the three people putting money in," said Roe, who is a former director at the club.

"My view is not a negative one. The investment is an exciting gesture."

The business plan is to involve the introduction of a holding company.

Roe understands why the club have moved in this direction, but he hopes it will not be to the detriment of the shareholders.

"I've experience of holding companies before in business and a lot of it depends on how it is set up.

"It rests on if the freehold (the Sincil Bank football ground) is transferred to the holding company.

"That is the detail that needs to be asked about. Is the free hold of the ground remaining in the existing limited company or is it being transferred to the holding company?

"Now we need to know the detail and if it is of benefit to all the shareholders.

"If it is then it is a good thing, but it is in the detail.

"It will be positive if the actual holding company is tied in to the existing limited company so all the shareholders are on the same level."

Roe was also curious as to how the move will go about.

He said: "Secondly, will there need to be an EGM to set up the new business?"

The view from the terraces at Sincil Bank has been positive.

Chris Maidens, a fan of 45 years welcomed the news.

"The investment shows that Bob Dorrian wants to keep the club going," said Maidens.

"We haven't any multi-millionaires or (Roman) Abramovich figures on the board, so it's important people like Bob take money out of their own pocket.

"It is a decision that needed to happen; the club's gate receipts are down and with the way the results have been going, it was important we secured our future and staved off any signs of administration."

Fellow supporter Mark Bishell was shocked to see extra investment

"I was very surprised to see the news and I certainly wasn't expecting any such investment to come from people already associated and involved with the running of the club, as it has done," said Bishell, who has followed the Imps for more than 20 years.

"I had been worrying about the slide of the club in recent years, especially with the recent story surrounding Darlington breaking, but this has pleased me.

"We can hopefully build from this investment now and move onto better things. The money is all well and good, but it is how we use the money which is most important.

"We must live within our means from now on and ensure we don't gamble on massive playing budgets we cannot sustain. The ambition must be there, but we must also be sensible.

"I think the money will probably go towards the day-to-day running of the club. The falling revenues since our relegation have been well-documented so the money could be put to good use on operating costs.

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