We are delighted to announce that Matt Rhead has extended his contract with the Imps until June, 2019.
Rhead, who scored and set one up in Saturday's win at Yeovil Town, was contracted until the summer of 2018, but that has been extended by a further year.
The Imps boss is thrilled to extend the stay of Rhead, who has 41 goals in little over two seasons at Sincil Bank.
"We're delighted to extend his deal, he’s been an integral part of our success at the football club and he’s a real fans favourite." Danny Cowley said.
"For us when we first arrived, the main job for us was to convince him to stay and we were pleased to do that. He was fantastic last year, a key part in the FA Cup and the league campaigns, but also this season for us too."
It's not just his qualities on the pitch, which warranted a new deal for the Imps' number nine according to the City boss who has been in talks to extend Rhead's deal since the summer.
"He’s a real leader both on the pitch and off the pitch. We want our best players around us, so the fact we can extend (his contract) it is excellent, and we’re hopeful that Matt can finish his career with us and Lincoln City." Cowley added.
"We’ve been speaking since the summer about extending. He’s unique, both as a person and a body type. I feel what we’ve been able to do is find ways to train him, to get the very best out of him and to maximise his performance.
"He’s tactically so intelligent, he’s a much better footballer than people think. His touch, his link up play is as good as you’ll get it."
'Rheady' joined the Imps in the summer of 2015 and scored 23 times in his first season at Sincil Bank.
He followed that up with 15 league goals during the title-winning campaign, and the Imps boss isn't surprised by his form of late and his transition in the EFL with City.
"I think he’s done fantastically well so far, and I had no doubt he would. You only had to look at how well he did in the FA Cup games last year and in terms of high calibre centre-backs, he was a real thorn in their sides." Cowley said.
"He’s always going to give you real aerial prowess. You can play into him, and he gives you a platform to play from. He’s a big part of our set-pieces offensively and defensively.
"But it’s the character he gives the team both on and off the pitch and that’s why we’ve been so keen to extend. I don’t think a Lincoln team would look the same without Matt Rhead in."
Rhead has made 113 appearances for the Imps, with this new deal keeping him here until the end of next season.
