Braintree Town chairman Lee Harding said he would never begrudge one of his managers wanting to leave the club to further their career.

The social media rumour mill has been in overdrive this week – much of it just speculation – that Iron boss Danny Cowley could be on the move after it emerged that fellow Vanarama National League side Lincoln City had asked to speak to him about becoming their new manager.

The stock of Danny, together with his brother – and assistant manager – Nicky, has risen throughout the season that has just concluded after they led the Iron to arguably their greatest ever campaign.

In the Cowley brothers’ first year at the helm, the team finished third in the National League and were only denied a place in Sunday’s play-off final at Wembley by an extra-time goal in their two-legged semi-final against Grimsby Town last weekend.

That has helped bring the managerial team on to the radar of rival clubs and Danny confirmed that he had had “a couple of approaches” to become boss elsewhere.

He said any decision to leave Braintree would be a huge one to take as he had a close affinity with the club, the players and its fans, however, he was also keen to hear what others had to offer.

Danny and Nicky, who both work as PE teachers in their full-time jobs alongside their part-time Iron commitments, spoke to Lincoln chiefs yesterday afternoon and Harding said he would be disappointed to see them go if the Imps or any other club proved appealing.

However, the Iron chairman said it was not his policy to stand in the way of a manager who had aspirations to move on.

He told the Braintree and Witham Times: “We gave Danny permission to speak to Lincoln as I think it’s a complement to the season that we’ve just had.

“If Danny is thinking about changing his primary employment (to become a full-time manager) then I don’t think we have the right to stop him.

“We would never stop anybody progressing.

“When players have had that option, like Dean Wells and Alex Revell, we have never stood in their way if it’s right for them and the club.

“I always think we benefit from people moving on to bigger and better things as it encourages the next crop to come here and see the model for progression that we have.

“I must say, I would be a bit surprised if it was Lincoln that Danny chose, though, as I personally think there would be better opportunities and jobs.

“But their chairman called me up and asked to speak to him - it happens all the time and it’s a bit of a merry-go-round to be honest.

“I did think it amusing earlier in the week that some media had stated categorically that he was going and, at the time, that was just wrong, but on the back of that, I had seven applications for Danny’s job in the space of a morning.

“If he does go to Lincoln, I don’t have a problem with that.

“If he thinks they are a better option and wants to take on a challenge then we will look for a replacement.

“But he has a young family to think of as well and, knowing Danny as well as I do, it won’t just be about football as his and Nicky’s personal arrangements will be a big factor as well.

“I regard him as being a very honest person and someone with great integrity.

“We would love Danny to stay as we value him as a manager, but if he wants to move to wherever, we would wish him well and the search would start.”