POSSIBLY the final piece in the Forest Green jigsaw, boss Mark Cooper is delighted to finally capture midfield general LIoyd James to the New Lawn.

Beating off Swindon Town, James penned a two-year deal at the League Two outfit  this afternoon and is  seen as an effective antidote  in replacing gladiatorial Isaiah Osbourne, who snubbed a new contract last month

Cooper said: “It’s been no secret that we’ve been after an experienced midfield player.

“Lloyd has played in the play-off final for the last two years and knows what the league is about and has played a lot of senior football at a really good level in good teams.

“He can sit in there and break things up but he is a really good and intelligent footballer as well.

“The deeper midfield player in our team is one that requires that little bit of know-how, somebody who can sit there and let the others get forward and give us that security.

“I tried to sign him when I first came to the club but we’re pleased to finally get him.”