West back to where he started

But the expected move has happened and he returns to the club where he first signed a professional contract back in 1991. He played in 119 league games for the Imps and scored 20 goals although he played for much of the time on the right hand side of midfield rather than at full back.

At the beginning of September 1995 the Lincoln manager Sam Ellis left the club to join new Bury manager Stan Ternent as assistant and by the end of the month Dean was on his way to Gigg Lane.

He was a member of the Bury side that won back to back promotions and he was at Gigg Lane for four years before signing for Stan Ternent again, this time for the Clarets just five years ago.

He was again involved in a promotion but the following season found himself unable to get a game but he fought his way back into the side and in the next season, 2001/02 won a number of Player of the Year Awards from the Supporters’ Groups.

Things have not been as good since, he was on a week to week contract for a while and his performances in a fast deteriorating Burnley side have not come close to matching that of his best season.

He was out of contract at the end of the season and with new manager Steve Cotterill looking elsewhere for new players Dean ‘Fred’ West has now joined Keith Alexander at Lincoln.