First of all, it’s nice to be asked to write a regular column for the Oxford Mail again after six month’s absence.

I think the club’s relationship with the Mail is so important on both sides and I’m pleased to say that it is as strong as any I know in the football world.

I usually see a different game to Dave Pritchard, but hopefully we both witness a really good match and a win for us today as we kick off the league season away at Lincoln.

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We’ve done well in pre-season against a variety of sides and a range of styles.

Then we’ve had positive performances in our first two games, beating AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup and Chelsea’s youngsters in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.

Everyone has had a game and it’s always pleasing to make progress in the cups, but in the back of our minds our focus has always been on today and the league season.

The first day of the new season is usually on a baking hot day in August, but everything is new to us and we’re having to adjust.

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Sincil Bank is traditionally a really hard place to go and play; the fans are loud and generate a great atmosphere, but obviously today that won’t be the case.

In purely football terms, Lincoln have brought in a new-look side and Michael Appleton will have them playing his style of football – one which brought him great success at Oxford.

It takes time to do that, something Michael was given here and which I was also given; we both got off to sticky starts and it took patience from the board before we really got going.

On that note, I’m very grateful to Tiger and the board for that patience and was glad to sign a new deal this week.

I’ve not finished the job I want to do here – there are things we need to improve and one of the many good characteristics we have at the club is a willingness to keep reinventing ourselves and continue learning.

We learned valuable lessons last season and today we get the first chance to show that we’ve improved and used them to make us even stronger.

One thing I wanted to mention in this first column back is the fantastic comments and messages that people have been sending us at the club since the country went into lockdown.

We’ve tried our best to help in any way we can, whether that was through messages to fans, mental health advice or masks for season ticket holders.

It really is so humbling to receive so much fantastic feedback.

I honestly believe that this football club is at the heart of both the city and the county.

If we’ve helped anyone through what has been such a difficult time then we’ve simply been repaying the faith and love that you show us every single matchday.

Thank you.