By Michael Hortin BBC Lincolnshire sports editor

Chris Sutton took charge of the Imps in September 2009

While the timing of Chris Sutton's departure from Sincil Bank was a bit of a surprise, maybe it was no shock that he resigned rather than waited to be sacked.

From the start the former Blackburn and Chelsea striker always made it clear to the fans, players and Imps board that he would do it his way and so his departure fitted that.

Looking back, one of his biggest problems was that he appeared to struggle to connect with the fans and the wider public in Lincolnshire.

At a recent fans forum he clashed with some supporters about the way the team was being run.

The real shame for me was that, having been fortunate enough to get to know him over the last year, I found Chris good company in one-on-ones and as helpful as it is possible for a manager to be with the media.

If you look at matters on the pitch, judging by league position compared to when he took over, you could say the Imps are no better off.

But I would disagree with that and say that the quality of player at Sincil Bank is better, but the team is just not right at the moment for the level it is playing at.

One fan put it to me recently that the Imps are just not League Two enough.

That may sound a bit strange but I know what he meant. At this level you need to be streetwise and Lincoln are not at the moment.

Like many who come to management after a successful playing career I also felt Chris struggled managing players who were less able than he was.

On the success side he was the manager who saved City from relegation and gave them their first FA Cup run in a decade.

Personally I am disappointed that things didn't work out.

Ultimately I will remember him as a manager that identified the problems but moved on before finding the solutions.

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