Exclusive: Michael Skubala makes final decision on quitting Lincoln for Bristol City

Michael Skubala is set to stay in charge of League One champions Lincoln City despite interest from Bristol City, sources have told Football Insider.

The Robins had identified the 43-year-old as an ideal candidate to lead the next stage of their project in 2026-27, but will now have to look elsewhere to find their next man.

Skubala has defied the odds to lead Lincoln to promotion from the third tier, and sources have indicated that he remains committed to the project at the LNER Stadium.

His Imps side raced to the league title with 103 points, and will now gear up for their first second-tier campaign in 65 years in the coming months.

The former Leeds United first-team coach has been linked with several Championship jobs in recent months, but he is keen to take on the second division with the Midlands outfit.

Football Insider revealed on Friday that Bristol City had identified Skubala and Portsmouth boss John Mousinho as the leading contenders for their vacant managerial role.

The Robins are looking to find a permanent replacement for Gerhard Struber, with the tenure of interim boss Roy Hodgson drawing to a close at the end of the campaign.

Skubala has now made it clear that the role at Ashton Gate is of little interest to him, after the team laboured to a 12th-placed finish in the Championship this term.

Bristol City have attemped to make a push towards the Premier League in recent years, but they have managed to qualify for the play-offs just once in the last 10 seasons.

Skubala is already clear that he will not be moving to take on the job there next term, as he is hoping to continue the surprise story that is developing with Lincoln.

They will be hugely unfancied in the Championship next term, but their boss is not yet ready to turn his back on what he has built.

Football Insider also revealed earlier this week that Lincoln are eyeing a move for Joe Emery, with the centre-back out of contract at Sheffield Wednesday this summer.

The 19-year-old’s potential availability has alerted several Championship clubs, while the Owls are also keen to try to keep hold of the starlet, who they see as a huge talent for the future.

Emery made seven appearances for the South Yorkshire outfit in 2025-26, but is being lined up for a bigger role at Hillsborough next term following their relegation to League One.

However, he also looks set to have plenty of options available to him elsewhere, with Lincoln among a number of clubs that are queuing up to offer him a new challenge.

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