Tilson considering permanent Grimes and Howell deals

By Nathan Jackson
January 5 2011

Lincoln City's Chairman Bob Dorrian has stated that he thinks Tilson is considering whether to make the loan moves of Ashley Grimes and Luke Howell permanent. The pair, on loan from Millwall and Milton Keynes Dons respectively, have both impressed in their loan spells, with Grimes netting three times.

Howell and Grimes (left) are two of the four loanees currently at Sincil Bank, joining at the end of October with Gavin Hoyte and Josh Gowling, the latter of whom has now returned to Gillingham. Although a permanent move for Hoyte is unlikely, Bob Dorrian told the Lincolnshire Echo he believes Tilson wants to bring the other two in permanently.

Steve can bring in players on-loan and players on permanent contracts. It could be that some of the loan players become permanent transfers. I think that is something that he (Tilson) is exploring. Certainly the side needs strengthening in certain areas and Steve knows what he wants," Dorrian told the Echo.

City are in desperate need to strengthening following the recent return to the relegation battle, see City as one of the three sides on 19 points at the very bottom of the division. The Imps and Hereford meet in an FA Cup tie on Saturday, meaning that Barnet have the chance to pull themselves clear, although a defeat for the Bees at Bradford would mean that if they will still be bottom of the League, having played four more games than the Imps and three more than Bradford. Barnet have picked up just two points on the road all season.

Lincoln's budget in the transfer window is likely to be impacted by the progression in the FA Cup. A win on Saturday nets City £27,000, as well as gate receipts. A win would also see City make a quickfire trip to Wycombe Wanderers, the site of a credible 2-2 draw for the Imps earlier in the season. The winners of that tie get around £67,500 and a share of the gate receipts, meaning that if City win both games, a pot of around £100,000 will be heading City's way within just a few days, not to forget a potential game against a Premiership giant.