Having been appointed as interim-manager to ensure the club completed the 2019/20 season, the new Exec-Board decided that Wilkinson was the right man to take the club forward into the new-era on a permanent basis.

Much of Wilkinson’s playing and managerial career has been spent at Lincoln United, making over 200 appearances and scoring 67 goals for the club.

He was also assistant manager to now Frickley Athletic boss, Dave Frecklington, during his three-year tenure at the club before taking the main seat in the pre-season of the 2016/17.

Wilkinson’s first stint in charge was cut short due to his resignation in the 2018/19 season. However, he returned to the dug-out for what would have been the final ten games of the 2019/20 season to support the club during difficult times.

Stuart Reddington will join Wilkinson in the dug-out as first team assistant manager.

Similarly, to Wilkinson, Reddington will be a familiar face to the Lincoln United faithful having made over 300 appearances for the club.

He has played football at the highest level, boasting the likes of Chelsea and other Football League clubs on his CV.

The remainder of Wilkinson’s management team will see the return of Lincoln United stalwart, Martin Burnett, who will take his place in the dug-out as first team coach, while ex-Lincoln United, Boston Town and Grantham Town player, James Morgan, has agreed to become the club’s first team goalkeeper coach.

Wilkinson told the club`s website: “I’m delighted to be back at Lincoln United, the club that gave me the opportunity to play and manage at a good level of football. It’s a club very close to my heart for obvious reasons; coinciding with the new board and direction the club’s future is taking, I jumped at the opportunity to come back and manage the first team. I’m excited to get going whenever that may be, and I hope to see many familiar and new faces down at the Sun-Hat Villas stadium to support the team in the new season”.