Northampton Town sign ex-Birmingham City midfielder Carter on two-year deal

Darren Carter has become the latest new player to sign for the Cobblers after agreeing terms on a two-year deal at Sixfields.
NEW SIGNING - Darren Carter, seen here playing for Cheltenham last season, has joined the Cobblers on a two-year dealNEW SIGNING - Darren Carter, seen here playing for Cheltenham last season, has joined the Cobblers on a two-year deal
NEW SIGNING - Darren Carter, seen here playing for Cheltenham last season, has joined the Cobblers on a two-year deal

The 29-year-old joins on a free transfer after concluding his contract at Cheltenham Town at the end of last season.

Described as an attacking, left-footed central midfielder with a good ability to arrive late in the box and score goals, Carter is a player Town manager Aidy Boothroyd believes is playing below his ability level and one he is delighted to have recruited.

“He was a key player for Cheltenham last season and I think he’s a really good midfielder with an excellent pedigree,” said Boothroyd of a midfielder who was widely expected to sign for Port Vale.

“He is in absolutely fantastic shape and he has had other offers so I’ve bought him dinner and persuaded him to come to this club.

“We think he’s a player who can get us goals from midfield and he genuinely believes he should not be playing in league two and I agree with him.

“But we’ve got him, just like we have some other good players, and we aren’t far away from having a really strong 16 now.”

Carter should make his debut in the club’s first domestic friendly match of the summer, at Sileby Rangers on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

The scenario is a far cry from Boothroyd’s first experience of the player - the 2002 first-division play-off final which saw Birmingham City promoted to the Premier League.

“When I was at Norwich I say him in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium and he scored the winning penalty for Birmingham that day,” he said.

“We were all depressed at Norwich that day, just like we were here at the end of last season, and they came again and got promoted, which I’m sure we will as well.

“So it just goes to show we’re all connected.”