After agreeing a new contract with Rovers earlier in the week and lining up for Rovers in their pre-season victory against the Imps, Scott Wharton has today re-signed for Lincoln City on loan, following a successful campaign at the Imps last season, which narrowly ended in playoff heartbreak, as they failed to earn back-to-back promotions.
The 20-year old, who claimed that he wanted to gain at least 30 first team games under his belt this season, is set to do so, after agreeing on a season-long return to Sincil Bank, which sees him link up with Danny Cowley and his side.
Wharton, who played in 15 league games last season, was vital to Lincoln’s push to the playoffs which narrowly saw them fall to Exeter City, following a second-leg collapse. Despite the failure to achieve back-to-back promotions, Wharton was singled out by the Imps fans as being a stand-out performer throughout their last set of games, and the Sincil Bank faithful will no doubt be delighted that Wharton’s return will see him slot back in, right from where he left off in May.
After agreeing on re-joining the Imps, Wharton took some time out to speak to Lincoln’s media department.
“It’s been a bit of a weird day to be honest, at first I was in the Rovers line-up, the next thing I knew, I was being announced as a new signing for Lincoln! I’m delighted to have re-joined the club. It was an easy decision to come back after last season, as I believe this is a place where I can achieve the first team football I need in order to improve. Danny Cowley talked to me last season about coming back and I’m pleased to get the deal done. The aim for us as a group of lads now, is to go one step further than last season.”
From a Rovers perspective, it is clear that Tony Mowbray believes the Championship has come a bit too early for Wharton, and that the manager would prefer the young defender gain more experience in the similarly demanding climate of League 2, under a manager who has similar standards as himself.
It remains to be seen however, how Mowbray intends to plug the gap created by Wharton’s temporary departure, as this move only leaves Rovers with 3 recognised first-team centre-backs in, Charlie Mulgrew, Darragh Lenihan and Paul Downing.
