 Bailey continued to attract the attention of Northwich Victoria's manager Mark Gardiner and having turned down one offer to join the Vics to remain at the Giant Axe, Gardiner came back with an improved pay offer which coupled with the lure of moving nearer to home in the Stoke area proved too much for Bailey and he departed Lancaster City in January 2000.He made his Football Conference debut for the club in the 2–0 defeat at Altrincham on 3 January 2000 scoring his first goal for the club in the 3–1 victory at Welling United on 8 January 2000.In October 2001, Bailey joined Lincoln City signing a contract that would keep him at Sincil Bank until the summer of 2004.