The Cumbrians have been unable to bring any new players into the club as they still owe the PFA money after receiving a loan last October.

The fact that Collins was missing from the team coach that travelled to Lincoln fuelled the rumours even further, but they were quickly dispelled when he arrived at the ground after travelling down by car with prospective new owner John Courtenay.

The events may well have brought take over negotiations to a head with an announcement expected shortly.

The preparation for the match had been less than adequate and it was evident in the performance of the players, where too many had an off day together.

Carlisle full back Mark Birch said after the game: “We were never in the game in the first half but we did start well and created a few chances but didn’t keep it going. They took their chances and we didn’t, it was one of those games. If we could have pulled it back to two all we could have gone on to win the game but at 3-1 there was no way back. We need to bounce back on Tuesday and win our games in hand, which is something we are more than capable of doing.”

Carlisle almost got a flying start when Stuart Green’s free kick was deflected onto the bar by the foot of Tony Hopper only for Steve Soley to narrowly head the rebound wide. Green then had another free kick saved by Alan Marriott before Lincoln’s direct approach started to cause concern for the Carlisle defence.

Peter Gain shot over from twenty yards before providing a cross for Paul Morgan to head narrowly wide. Lee Thorpe went close, heading against the post from a Justin Walker corner but on 29 minutes he opened the scoring, latching on to a Walker through ball before rounding Peter Keen to slot home.

Carlisle came back with a Soley header from Brendan McGill,s cross which was well saved by Marriott.

On 34 minutes a hesitant Carlisle defence watched a free Grant Brown header from Walker’s corner cannon back of the post, but the Imps stretched their lead on the stroke of half time.

Paul Smith’s cross from the right saw the Carlisle defence fail to attack the ball leaving Tony Battersby free to head home.

The Cumbrians got back into it immediately after the break when a Mark Birch cross from the right eluded everyone except McGill who diverted the ball past Marriott.

As Carlisle began to dominate Richie Foran headed over a Green corner and Soley fired past the post. Peter Murphy then pulled a shot wide before feeding Ian Stevens on the edge of the box only for the striker to turn and shoot narrowly wide.

A surging run down the left saw McGill find Soley but lack of composure saw him blast over from close range and Green then shot over after good work from Stevens.

The Cumbrians were left to rue their missed chances as Lincoln wrapped things up with eight minutes left.

Good control from Gain laid the ball into the path of Walker who turned to thunder a tremendous shot into the top corner.

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