Lincoln are hoping to make it fourth time lucky after a hat-trick of heartbreaks in League Two play-offs. The Imps have fallen at the last hurdle twice and the semi-final stage once since Keith Alexander took over at the helm but Dean Keates is hoping to help them lose their 'nearly men' tag. The tigerish midfielder has signed up at Sincil Bank after Kidderminster's demotion to the Conference and he is hoping to enjoy the same success as he achieved at Hull. Keates helped guide Hull to promotion from League Two and Alexander will be hoping he can do the trick once again. He will be part of a much-changed line-up this term as half a dozen players decided to move on to pastures new. Ian Clarkson caught up with Keates as he was driving in to training alongside Matt Bloomer.
Q:WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO SIGN FOR LINCOLN?
A:I spoke to a couple of other teams over the summer but after I had spoken to the gaffer at Lincoln, Keith Alexander, my mind was made up. He really sold the club to me and offered me a great challenge for next year. During the last three seasons we have been there or thereabouts and only missed out on promotion in the play-offs, so we need to try and go one better again this year.
Q:HOW DID THE MOVE COME ABOUT?
A:I owe Colin Murphy a big drink as I spoke to him in the summer and he recommended me to Lincoln. Colin is assistant manager at Hull nowadays and knew me from my time there so the manager rang me up on his recommendation. I was impressed with what he said and only the top three will do for him this season. He said that he wants automatic promotion and I think the only way that he would accept the play-offs was if we were eighth on the final day and just sneaked in that way. Northampton and Wycombe impressed me last year but I don't see anyone running away with it this season.
Q:WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF KEITH ALEXANDER?
A:He will have a laugh and a joke with the players and joins in with the banter. However, when there is work to be done he insists that you knuckle down and we know the time to be serious. He also likes his players to have an opinion and is quite prepared to listen to them.
Q:THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A MASS EXODUS AFTER LAST SEASON?
A:Ben Futcher has left, as has Simon Yeo and a couple of the midfielders, but there is still a strong nucleus of players left. Ever since I arrived at Sincil Bank it is easy to see why the team has been so successful over the last three years. There is an amazing team spirit and everyone is on the same wavelength. The manager makes a big point of everyone mucking in together and the pre-season tour of Ireland helped the new boys fit in.
Q:WHAT HAS PRE-SEASON BEEN LIKE?
A:The first couple of days were basic running but it has been spot on and we have had a lot of games. We had a couple of decent games in Ireland and it was a chance to get to know everyone. We even went in the sea in Sligo, which was a cold experience!
Q:I TAKE IT YOU DIDN'T FANCY STEPPING INTO THE CONFERENCE WITH KIDDERMINSTER?
A:Stuart Watkiss was fantastic. He kept me up to speed and said that he really wanted me to keep me there but as the club was going through a takeover he could only make me a verbal offer. He also said that he didn't think I should play in the Conference, as I was good enough to stay in the league. When the takeover was sorted out he rang me up but I said it was 95 per cent certain I was going to Lincoln and he wished me all the best.
Q:ARE YOU MOVING TO LINCOLNSHIRE?
A:I am going to commute as I usually drive in with Gary Birch and Matt Bloomer. People at the club have said they will put us up a couple of nights a week when needed and I am driving in with Bloomer now. In fact, he told me to say that he is by far the best player I have ever played with!
