Neil Redfearn, 21-year-old midfielder, was set to join Doncaster Rovers for £17,500 on 20 August 1986. Lincoln City chairman John Reames ordered the player back to Sincil Bank after Doncaster delayed payment of the tribunal-set fee, sparking a public dispute that dominated the club’s final pre-season days.
Reames had been waiting for confirmation that the deal had closed. When Doncaster’s offer fell short of the £17,500 valuation, the club initially declined to pay, citing the need to negotiate a lower price. Reames described the situation as “a disgraceful situation” and accused Doncaster of “messing about for weeks” and “waiting until the last week of the close season” to save on wages.
The dispute centred on a tribunal valuation of £17,500. Doncaster had first shown interest in Redfearn in the summer of 1985, but no formal offer was made until the end of the season. Reames was unimpressed by the timing, noting that the club had contacted him “last Christmas” but never made an offer, opting instead for a tribunal. He warned that if Doncaster completed the signing but refused to cover the player’s wages from the point the tribunal set the fee, he would take the matter to the Football League.
During the interim, Redfearn remained with George Kerr’s squad and was expected to play in Lincoln’s final pre-season friendly at Sleaford. The situation was short-lived, however, as the move to Doncaster eventually went through for the agreed fee. The transfer was officially completed on 20 August 1986, with Doncaster paying £17,500 to Lincoln City.
Redfearn’s departure ended a productive spell at Sincil Bank. He had joined Lincoln from Bolton Wanderers in 1984 and made 100 league appearances, scoring 13 goals. At Doncaster he added another 14 goals in 46 league games before Crystal Palace purchased him in 1987 for £100,000, yielding an £82,500 profit for Lincoln City.
The midfielder’s career continued to flourish. He later played for Watford, Oldham Athletic, Barnsley, Charlton Athletic, Bradford City, Wigan Athletic and several other clubs. He eventually amassed more than 1,000 competitive first-team matches, with his seven-year spell at Barnsley becoming the defining period of his playing career.
The 1986 transfer saga highlighted the challenges of negotiating tribunal fees and the importance of timely communication between clubs. While the dispute was resolved with the transfer’s completion, it left a lasting impression on Lincoln City’s management and underscored the financial pressures faced by lower-league clubs during the close season.
