Barnet FC can announce Tom Champion has today left The Hive to join National League side Lincoln City on loan for three months.
The former Cambridge United midfielder joined the Bees last season and has made one substitute appearance for the first team this season — against Accrington Stanley last month.
Discussing the decision, head coach Martin Allen said: "I’ve had numerous offers for Tom over the last five weeks. Lots of clubs have rung and asked about Tom and I always let the players know when there’s an offer.Â
"But I explained to Tom that I wanted to keep him and he would play. But opportunities have been very limited for him.Â
"He is a strong character, a captain and a really good professional footballer. It has been one of my hardest decisions every Thursday morning when I pick the team because there hasn’t been space for him.
"It has got to the point where I wouldn’t say he has shown he is frustrated and disappointed, but I feel he should be going out and playing.Â
"We felt a three-month loan to Lincoln, who will be challenging near the top of the National League, would be good for Tom. He agreed with that and wanted to get out and play.
"It has been a mutual thing and, for the club, it’s good to get three months’ money back in. It also presents an opportunity for our younger players.Â
"We saw Harry Taylor play in central midfield last season away at Stevenage and it will give other younger players the chance to step up after doing so well in training.Â
"I have promised them all games in the first team and I do need to open pathways for our younger players to come up into our first-team group.
"When the three months are up he will be coming back and we will review it. This isn’t the end of Tom Champion at Barnet.Â
"He isn’t someone I desperately want out of the door. We will miss him, but I have also got to look to the future."
Everyone at the club would like to wish Tom the best of luck during his time at Sincil Bank.
