Kovacs joined Lincoln from Chesterfield in June

A Football League tribunal has ordered Lincoln City to pay Chesterfield �17,500 in compensation for defender Janos Kovacs.

The Spireites will also receive 20% of any sell-on fee for the Hungarian, 22.

The tribunal's valuation falls half-way between the Imps' offer of �10,000 and Chesterfield's demand for �25,000.

City Manager Peter Jackson told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "We're delighted whatever the fee, we feel we've got a real bargain in Janos."

Kovacs' transfer went to a tribunal as he is under 24 and was offered a new deal at Saltergate.

Lincoln chairman Steff Wright admitted: "It's more than we valued the player at but it's less than Chesterfield wanted so in that sense we're happy."