Carl is a top Championship player, says Rovers boss
Forest Green Rovers boss Mark Cooper says Sunderland have signed a ‘Championship ability’ player in Carl Winchester.
The midfielder has agreed an initial two-and-a-half year deal to become the first signing of the Lee Johnson era on Wearside.
Winchester made over 100 appearances for Forest Green over a two-and-a-half season spell, becoming captain and a crucial part of the side pushing for League Two promotion in the early stages of this season.
Cooper says the Black Cats have signed a ‘fantastic player’ with ‘real quality’.
"Carl has been fantastic for us during his time at the club and I have gone on record saying he is a Championshipability player,” he said.
"He was out of contract in the summer and of course we wanted to keep him. But, once you hear that Sunderland are interested, with all that it brings, how can you not let that happen?
"It's another player that we've managed to sell on - and we wish him well. Let's hope it's not long before he's playing in front of 40,000 supporters at the Stadium of Light.
"Carl is a quiet leader. He leads by example and from the very moment he arrived at Forest Green, you could tell he was a player with real quality. This all came out of the blue, but we wish him nothing but the best."
Johnson is now set to turn his attention to other areas of the pitch, with strengthening his forward options likely to be the focus.
A f t e r a f r u s t r at i n g 1 - 1 draw with Hull City, the Sunderland head coach said he needed a ‘different dynamic’ in one area of the pitch.