MATT Tubbs has today joined Eastleigh's Vanarama National League rivals Forest Green Rovers on a one-year deal after leaving Portsmouth by mutual consent.

The experienced former AFC Bournemouth, Crawley Town and Salisbury City striker spent the back end of last season on loan with the Spitfires.

But the 31-year-old – a golden boot winner in both the Football League and Football Conference - failed to set the Silverlake Stadium alight, scoring just twice in 16 appearances as Eastleigh fell short of the play-offs.

Having had an initial approach turned down by Tubbs, FGR manager Mark Cooper kept the communication lines open with a player who has scored at a rate of almost one in every two games during his career.

Prior to joining Eastleigh, Salisbury-born Tubbs had spent three months frozen out at Portsmouth and Cooper believes that, once he is fully match-fit, he will again make an impact at National League level.

Cooper said: “Matt was maybe rushed out on loan (to Eastleigh) 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.

"His goal-scoring record speaks for itself, he’s scored at this level and the two above. Matt is a really big signing."