Bristol City fans must be wary of Michael Skubala catch | OneFootball

Bristol City supporters have to be wary of one catch regarding Michael Skubala after bringing him to Ashton Gate from Lincoln City...

As we close the 2025/26 season and look ahead to 2026/27, Bristol City supporters have every reason to be excited by the appointment of Michael Skubala after poaching him from Lincoln City.

The former Lincoln City boss arrives at Ashton Gate with his reputation enhanced perhaps more than any other EFL manager after guiding the Imps to a remarkable League One title-winning campaign. Not only that, but they collected 103 points and secured promotion in style thanks to a 29-game unbeaten run to end the season.

It was the sort of campaign that inevitably attracts attention from clubs higher up the football pyramid, and Bristol City have moved to secure one of the most highly-rated coaches outside the top flight. From the Robins' perspective, there is plenty to like as well. That's despite perhaps taking their time to find Roy Hodgson's long-term successor.

Skubala has demonstrated an ability to develop players, implement a clear and very direct playing style, and build a winning culture at a club with a budget well below the top teams in League One. However, while much of the focus has understandably centred on the man himself, there is another aspect of his move that should not be overlooked, too.

Why Michael Skubala appointment could age poorly for Bristol City

When managers leave successful clubs, they often bring trusted members of staff with them. Those relationships are built over years and can be crucial to the smooth implementation of ideas on the training pitch and in the dressing room. In Skubala's case, that has not happened.

That's because Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, who served as his assistants during Lincoln's historic promotion campaign, have elected to remain at the LNER Stadium and take charge as joint-managers. That decision could prove to be significant in 2026/27.

Despite Skubala gaining plenty of praise, with it appearing as though he masterminded the success of Lincoln, both men were widely credited as important figures behind the scenes throughout a campaign that exceeded even the most optimistic expectations.

While Skubala was undoubtedly the public face of the project, football management is rarely a one-man operation. General coaching, combined with gluing the team together, tactical work, individual development, and man-management skills are all aspects of what make a fantastic coach at any level of a football club.

In fact, the importance of a strong coaching team is often underestimated by supporters and commentators alike. Assistants frequently play a major role in those aspects through training-ground preparation, tactical analysis, and maintaining standards behind the scenes. In some cases, their influence only becomes fully appreciated once a successful partnership is broken up.

That is not to suggest Skubala cannot succeed without Cohen and Shaw. His track record still speaks for itself, and Bristol City will back him with resources that were unavailable at Lincoln. Equally, though, it is fair to question whether the transition will be quite as seamless as many supporters hope.

The chemistry and trust developed between coaching staff can take years to establish, which is why replacing two key lieutenants is rarely straightforward. Skubala might have been the most crucial factor for Lincoln and time will tell, but there is a world where this goes wrong in BS3.

History provides several examples of managerial partnerships where the assistant appeared every bit as important as the head coach. Steven Gerrard's struggles after separating from Michael Beale are often cited as a modern example at Rangers, while football has also seen figures such as Carlos Queiroz alongside Sir Alex Ferguson as well.

Beyond that, Peter Taylor with Brian Clough, Steve Round with David Moyes, and even Mikel Arteta since beating Pep Guardiola to a title this season showcases why so many of them are important and that they should possibly earn more significant praise for their contributions.