FOREST GREEN ROVERS‘ capture of former Conference golden boot winner Matt Tubbs is “a really big signing” according to boss Mark Cooper.
The experienced 31-year-old has joined the Gloucestershire outfit after cancelling his contract at League Two side Portsmouth by mutual consent.
He scored five goals in 17 appearances last season for Pompey before joining Rovers’ National League rivals Eastleigh on loan in February.
Tubbs scored twice in 14 appearances but Rovers will be hoping he can rediscover the form that made him one of the most feared strikers in Non-League.
He has plenty of experience in the lower leagues, making his name at Salisbury City, scoring over 100 goals for the Whites before spells with Bournemouth, Crawley, Rotherham, Wimbledon and Pompey.
Tubbs scored his first Forest Green goal in Wednesday night’s friendly victory against Cardiff City and boss Cooper will hope he can fill the void left by Jon Parkin, who left the club last week.
Cooper told the club’s website: “His goal scoring record speaks for itself, he’s scored at this level and the two above, Matt is a really big signing.
“The strikers we now have are all different, they each offer a different threat. But it’s important that they complement each other and Tubbs will be able to play with any of the other three.
“Matt was maybe rushed out on loan (to Eastleigh last season), before he was fully fit. But once we have him for a few weeks and he is match-fit and flying – he’ll score goals – plain and simple.
“We wanted ideally to have a quick decision earlier in the summer, but as a player he wanted to explore his options and I understand that. But we got there in the end.”
