Lincoln dismiss Alexander link to Grimsby job

Keith Alexander, whose recovery from a life-threatening brain disorder has been one of the football season's happiest stories, must be flattered to know that it has taken only a week back at the helm at Lincoln City for rumours to circulate that he has been head-hunted by a bigger club.

Assuming, of course that Grimsby, struggling at the wrong end of the Second Division, can be regarded in that way.

In Alexander's absence, the Imps have maintained their promising early-season form and lie eighth in the Third Division, only 13 places behind the Mariners, who sacked their player-manager, Paul Groves, this week after a run of nine games without a win and 14 goals conceded in three matches.

However, Rob Bradley, the Lincoln chairman, dismissed the link with Blundell Park, where Alexander was a player in the late 1980s, as wishful thinking.

"People have put speculation together based on Grimsby losing their boss and Keith coming back to work," Bradley said. "There was a Grimsby connection in the past but there's nothing in it at all. Keith has done very well for us and we're hoping he will sign a new contract."

Alexander, whose side meet their Lincolnshire rivals Scunthorpe at Sincil Bank today, is expected to sign a two-and-a-half year contract extension before kick-off, which will be hailed by the players as great news.

"He has already achieved a lot of success and we are on course for more this term," Lincoln's captain, Paul Morgan, said. "He has built some good foundations and a successful team. It is a massive boost for everybody, because he is thought of very highly."

Grimsby's chairman, Peter Furneaux, has been inundated with applications for the vacant manager's post, although he insisted there would be no rushed appointment.

Meanwhile, with Plymouth out of action this afternoon, Queen's Park Rangers have an opportunity to draw level on points with the Second Division leaders by winning at Brentford.

Port Vale, who dismissed Brian Horton as manager despite the 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday that kept them in promotion contention, are at home to Oldham in Martin Foyle's first game in charge.