With thanks to the Lincolnshire Echo

Of all the positions in the football industry, the one of club chair can often be as interesting to us fans as players, managers, and the rest. People who are inherently brash, outspoken, and controversial in their own chosen field and where they are little known outside of it, suddenly become brash, outspoken, and controversial and very well known when they take over the chairman’s mantle at the club they chose to invest in. Sometimes this new-found publicity makes them even more brash, outspoken…..you get my drift. I’m talking Ken Bates, Simon Jordan, Darragh MacAnthony here, and of course there’s others.
Changing tack for a second – bear with me – there’s a long way to go before we can think about the Imps staying in the automatic promotion places. We’re second with fifty two points, but at the time of writing this, there’s still fifty seven more to play for to play for. Anything can happen. 
If we did get a promotion or play-off spot though, then every single Imp would I’m sure dedicate that achievement to one man – Clive Nates, our outgoing chair, for what he’s done for our club.
There’s an old expression that says ‘You can tell a man by his shoes’. Or maybe I’ve imagined it. Whatever. Clive isn’t into Armani suits and boardroom luxury. Trainers, jeans, and a Lincoln City jacket are his style, as is standing with the supporters in an away section. At first shy when he arrived, he’s been modest, unassuming, and a spotlight shunner over the time he’s spent, with his board, taking this club up the pyramid and absolutely transforming it.  
Clive has always valued the voice of our fans and from the off has welcomed the Red Imps Community Trust in as an integral part of how Lincoln City strategy is set and actions carried out. Our Trust board is so grateful for that.
Now changes are afoot and possibly even more exciting things are planned. Clive Nates stays as vice-chair though which is great news.
As we approach spring and, with fingers and everything else crossed, we hope to be up near the top of League One. If we are and that miracle takes place, then it’s Clive Nates who we should all salute the most.