Michael Skubala: Bristol City job ‘perfect timing’ for ex-Lincoln boss

Bristol City manager Michael Skubala says it was the right time to move to Ashton Gate after clinching promotion to the Championship with Lincoln City.

Skubala led the Imps to the League One title last season despite having one of the smallest budgets in the division, but will start next season in the dugout with the Robins.

Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol, he said he was looking forward to a “new challenge”.

“It was a really tough decision to leave Lincoln, I have nothing bad to say about the club, a great club to work for, great leadership, great ownership,” Skubala said.

“We did a great job there, the challenge was to get promoted [to the second tier] for the first time in 65 years. We had a plan to do that in five years, and we did it in three.

“But it felt like it was the right time to move to an ambitious club that wants to get promoted as well. It’s hard to leave a club when you have been successful, but I love a challenge and a new challenge.

“The more I dig deeper into it with Bristol City, the more I thought this is an amazing and exciting project.

“I always say to try and leave a job better than when you started and I feel like I did that at Lincoln.”

Lincoln had spent seven seasons in League One before promotion and Bristol City are currently on the joint-longest run of consecutive campaigns in the Championship.

“We have aspirations for the Premier League, but that will take time, Rome was not built in a day,” Skubala added.

“I had some near misses at Lincoln before last season, but we have got to have ambition, that North Star to aim for.

“I am really excited to get going, and am looking forward to it.”