The Imps are reeling from relegation with a growing number now regretful that the money men either end up at Notts County or turned back to France as unwanted invaders. The pressure is on yet the current chairman and board shows little idea and even less desire to put in the cash we need. LCM thought it time to start a series on former chairman, men of vision who put their money in to save our Lincolnshire bacon. There were ups, there were downs but there was only one John Reames, Lincoln born and bred. Born 19 February 1942, he died on 6 May 2008 having been a chairman manager who had given everything to this club, even gifting his entire shares in the club to the Trust to help pave the way to administration.
John Reames originally joined the board of Lincoln City Football Club in 1983. It was called DR Day (Directors Resign Day) when the entire Lincoln City FC board resigned following death threats. Ex Chairman Gilbert Blades was not a popular man to say the least. This action left the club in turmoil for the remainder of that season, with the Imps missing promotion to Division 2. It was also the start of a dramatic decline. We had been relegated from the Football League, just four seasons after being clear leaders of Division 3.
He became Chairman in 1985 taking over from Denis Houston. John would stay for 15 years making him the longest Lincoln City chairman. In that span he saw us relegated to the conference despite being the only club in Division 4 to make a profit. We didn’t make that mistake again. We bounced straight back under Colin Murphy, brought back by a John Reames charm offensive. He also manipulated the football stadium grants to our advantage, giving us the stadium we have today. In 1993 Steve Thompson was sacked after missing out on the play-offs by virtue of goal average. In 1995 he sacked Steve Wicks after only 42 days. In 1997 despite an ongoing war with John Beck the Imps were promoted. Allegedly he told the police where he would be at 3pm and JB was arrested at five to three at Sincil Bank. Despite huge losses he cobbled together £75,000 to buy Lee Battersby with winger Lee Philpot, and Leo Fortune-West joining on frees. We struggled and dropped like a stone.
In January 1998, he controversially sacked his 12th manager, Shane Westley, and took over himself. Though widely seen at the time as megalomania, the simple truth was that the club could not afford a replacements wages, with lower gates tightening the noose. This may have something to do with dealing with the payoffs of John Beck and Shane Westley as well as the spiralling debt. The football improved, though we were still relegated. It wasn’t all bad, the following season he even became manager of the month (October 1999), despite players and peers questioning his tactics on and off the field. Few disagreed to his face though.
Reames handed over the managerial reigns to Stant in May 2000. The man with the clipboard finally had the reigns he had been promised. John returned to the boardroom to wrestle with the finances of a club that had lost £1 million over the last 5 years. In November 2000, after announcing losses of £1.7 million at the AGM, he resigned as chairman of Lincoln City FC. Rob Bradley, the elected chairman of Lincoln's Supporters Trust, a director since the summer became football's first ever supporter-chairman.
John then attempted to take over at Gainsborough Trinity before joining Wrexham. Here he became a whistle blower that saved the Dragon’s stadium. Above all Keith John Reames was a man of principle.
R.I.P. John who died 6th May 2008.
The full list of sacked managers reads - Colin Murphy (1978 -1985 left by mutual consent), John Pickering (July 1985 - Dec 1985), George Kerr (Dec 1985 - Mar 1987), Peter Daniel (Mar 1987 - May 1987), Colin Murphy (July 1987 - May 1990 left by mutual consent), Allan Clarke (June 1990 - Dec 1990), Steve Thompson (Dec 1990 - May 1993), Keith Alexander (May 1993 - May 1994), Sam Ellis (June 1994 - Sept 1985), Steve Wicks (Sept 1995 - Oct 1995 just 42 days), John Beck (Oct 1995 - Mar 1998) and Shane Westley (Mar 1998 - Nov 1998).