Michael Skubala appeared to be staying with Lincoln City and signing new contracts, but there was a last-minute surprise involving Championship rivals Bristol City.

Michael Skubala achieved a historic promotion with Lincoln City in 2026, although Bristol City is among the clubs interested in Skubala. After Gerhard Struber was fired, Roy Hodgson took command of the Robins for the second time in his management career to finish the season.

It appeared that Skubala would remain in command of Lincoln and sign a new contract at the LNER Stadium. However, the hubbub has not subsided, with BBC Sport’s Nick Mashiter suggesting that Bristol City were considering a new strategy.

In fact, the new deal would cost more than £1 million to relocate the popular manager out of Lincolnshire in 2026/27 to replace Hodgson after the 78-year-old’s departure.

Michael Skubala is likely to take on Bristol City position and depart Lincoln.

At one point, it appeared that Bristol City and Burnley were both interested in Steven Gerrard. However, nothing has happened on that front. Bristol City’s wishlist also included John Mousinho and Steve Cooper, but Skubala’s name has remained.

However, the Robins were left unhappy on Wednesday evening when AFC Bournemouth boss Tommy Elphick declined the offer to take over. That happened after Skubala agreed to a new contract, and many expected them to go elsewhere.

However, according to the most recent reports, Skubala is planning another U-turn and will leave immediately after securing his historic promotion with Lincoln. The 43-year-old is leaving to join Bristol City, which finished 12th in the Championship last season.

According to John Percy of The Telegraph, they are close to selecting Skubala as new head coach. Skubala has been offered the position and is expected to leave Lincoln following his promotion from League One.

Negotiations are ongoing but close to completion, with the former Leeds United assistant poised to sign a three-year contract at Ashton Gate. It’s unclear why, but James Ellis, their new sporting director, could have played a significant influence in persuading Skubala.

Ellis and Skubala have a long history of working together at Loughborough University, both as coaches and on the board. Their distinct paths crossed at that time, and they appear to be doing so again in Bristol’s red half.

A significant loss for Lincoln City, who must now replace Michael Skubala.

It has previously been questioned whether Bristol City is a significant upgrade over Lincoln for Skubala, although they have been in the Championship for 12 seasons and have a much larger budget than Lincoln.

Lincoln were already facing a hard challenge in the Championship after gaining promotion, given the huge increase in quality and depth from League One. Survival is likely to have needed a near-perfect summer of recruitment and adaption.

Skubala’s move to Bristol City simply makes the task more tougher. He played an important role in Lincoln’s development, establishing a defined identity and clearly optimising the resources at his disposal by squeezing every last drop to score more than 100 points last season.

Replacing a manager of his ability so close to the start of the season adds to the already unpredictable nature of what promises to be a challenging season. You could be forgiven for expecting the worst from them now, whether you’re a fan or a neutral.