On this day in 1995, a proposed £300,000 Lincoln City transfer of Matt Carbon to Birmingham City appeared to have collapsed after the young defender rejected the personal terms offered at St Andrew’s.
The deal would have established a new club-record transfer fee for the Imps, but Carbon returned to Sincil Bank with his future unresolved. He was one of the brightest prospects to emerge from City’s youth system during the 1990s. Still only 20, he had already attracted attention from further up the pyramid after progressing through the youth ranks and establishing himself in Sam Ellis’ first team.
Birmingham’s interest had gone far beyond an initial enquiry. City accepted a fee of £300,000, potentially rising through additional payments, before chairman John Reames and Ellis granted Carbon permission to discuss the move. The youngster travelled to St Andrew’s on the Friday and appeared to be on his way to the First Division. However, the transfer encountered a significant problem when Carbon and Birmingham began discussing his proposed contract.
The Lincolnshire Echo reported that he had been unable to agree on personal terms and had subsequently returned to Lincoln. City managing director Geoff Davey feared the proposed transfer had broken down completely.
“It would appear that negotiations have broken down,” said Davey.
“We had agreed to accept a fee of £300,000 plus add-ons for Matt. But it seems that the player has turned down what appears to have been a derisory personal package, considering he was someone who would have commanded such a substantial transfer fee.”
It was an unusual situation because Birmingham were prepared to pay what would have been a club-record fee to secure Carbon’s services. Despite placing that value on him during negotiations with City, they had seemingly been unable to persuade the player that their contract reflected either his ability or his potential.
There was a clear sense of frustration from Lincoln’s side. A guaranteed £300,000 represented a considerable amount of money for the club in 1995, particularly when the existing record sale was the £250,000 received from Blackburn Rovers for goalkeeper Matt Dickins in 1992.
City had therefore agreed a deal which would have established a new financial benchmark at Sincil Bank. However, the final decision remained with Carbon, and the club could do little once he had rejected Birmingham’s terms.
“Obviously from a club point of view, it is disappointing that the deal appears to have fallen through,” added Davey.
“The offer Birmingham made to us was one we could not turn down.”
Carbon Remained an Imp
Despite the disappointment, there was no suggestion that Carbon had attempted to force his way out of City. He had been given permission to speak with Birmingham and consider the opportunity, but he was entitled to reject a contract which he did not believe was suitable.
Davey stressed that the player had simply been allowed to explore the possibility of stepping up two divisions. Once those discussions failed to produce an agreement, Carbon returned home and resumed his career with the Imps.
“We advised Matt that a First Division club had come in for him and so allowed him the chance to go and talk to them.
“But now he is back home and remains firmly a Lincoln City player.
“That’s not to say the deal cannot be resurrected. But at the moment it looks to be off.”
Birmingham manager Barry Fry and chairman Jack Wiseman were unavailable for comment, leaving the precise details of the rejected offer unclear. From City’s perspective, preparations had to continue on the assumption that Carbon would remain part of Ellis’ squad.
That was hardly a bad outcome in footballing terms. Carbon had joined the Imps as a trainee, progressed through the youth system and represented England at under-18 level, underlining his reputation as one of the club’s most promising young players.
He had initially established himself as a full-back before moving into midfield towards the end of the previous season. The switch brought an impressive return of eight goals and added another dimension to a player who was already valued for his defensive qualities.
Carbon’s versatility and potential made Birmingham’s interest understandable. Equally, his age meant there was no need for him to accept the first opportunity placed in front of him, especially if the personal terms did not reflect the size of the transfer fee agreed between the clubs.
A Record Sale Delayed
Although the Birmingham move did not happen, Carbon’s performances ensured that interest from higher levels did not disappear. He remained with the Imps during a turbulent 1995/96 season in which Ellis departed, and Steve Wicks briefly took charge before John Beck arrived at Sincil Bank.
Carbon eventually left for Derby County in 1996 for £385,000, finally becoming Lincoln City’s record sale. He went on to play in the Premier League and made 20 league appearances for Derby before joining West Bromwich Albion for £800,000 in 1998.
He became a regular at The Hawthorns, making 113 league appearances for Albion. Later spells followed with Walsall, Barnsley and Milton Keynes Dons, while he also briefly returned to City on loan in 2003, and his career marked him out as one of our most succesful academy graduates.
Carbon finished his career with more than 300 league appearances and represented England at under-21 level four times. His subsequent career demonstrated why City had valued him so highly and why Birmingham had been prepared to offer a club-record fee.
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