Scott Fry’s growing influence at Rangers may now be attracting attention north of the border, but the foundations of that reputation were laid quietly at Lincoln.
During his time at Sincil Bank, Fry was brought in as a specialist, but quickly became an integral part of the club’s match preparation. Set pieces were no longer treated as an add-on to training sessions or something to be rushed through at the end of the week. Instead, they became a structured, deliberate part of our identity, with clear roles, clear targets and repeated patterns designed to exploit opposition weaknesses.
The results were striking. Lincoln’s return from dead-ball situations last season was among the best in Europe, with 30 goals scored overall. That success was built on consistency rather than novelty. Fry’s approach prioritised attacking specific areas, committing numbers to the box and, crucially, maintaining pressure after the first phase had broken down. Second balls were treated as opportunities rather than resets, a principle that players quickly absorbed.
Former Imp Ethan Erhahon has spoken openly about the impact Fry had on the squad. His recollections underline how Fry’s intensity translated into player buy-in, even in the least glamorous aspects of the game.
“Scott is an interesting guy,” he said. “He’s obsessed with set pieces. Absolutely obsessed. We all really liked him at Lincoln. We used to call him our very own Austin MacPhee. Last year in our secret Santa, someone even bought him a set piece book that Austin was involved in.
“He’d regularly come and tell us that he was up late watching YouTube and discovered a set piece that he wanted to try with us. I loved stuff like that. Because as players, when you felt he was so invested in something, you wanted to invest in it too.
“No player likes standing out there in the freezing cold practising corner routines. But although it was serious stuff with Scott, he made it enjoyable.
“Scott actually got us a bonus for scoring last season. I can’t remember the exact figure, but let’s say it was £500 a goal. And if we conceded from a set piece, we lost £500. By the end of the season, because of our record with Scott, we were plus 25 on set pieces.
“The board had to pay it and we used all of that money for a squad night out in Manchester. Small things like that make a huge difference because it gives the players extra incentive to do well from set pieces. Who doesn’t want to make extra money. Scott fought for that for us.”
That bonus structure was a clear example of Fry’s influence extending beyond the training pitch. It introduced accountability at both ends of the field and gave players a direct stake in outcomes that are often treated as marginal. The resulting Manchester trip was simply the consequence of those standards being met over the course of a season.
Fry’s methods at Lincoln have also left a lasting impact, with the current coaching team keeping up the strong work on set pieces. In League One this season, we lead the way with 13, two more than Huddersfield and Luton Town. In terms of concessions, we’ve let in seven, a midtable amount.