By Chris O'Brien
July 15 2004

Manchester United defender Mark Lynch has left Old Trafford and headed for the North East to further his career. The 22-year-old has signed a three-year deal with Sunderland, joining the Black Cats on a free transfer.

First Division outfit Sunderland have signed Mark Lynch from Manchester United on a free transfer, with the defender signing a three-year contract with the Black Cats.

Lynch was always highly-rated during his teenage years and was expected to be a first-team regular at Old Trafford for years to come. However, despite playing a Champions League game for United, he has failed to break into the senior set-up on regular occasions and reached a personal decision that it was best to leave his hometown club to further his football career.

"It's always a wrench to leave a club like United but I thought the time was right and the gaffer said it was okay for me to move on," said Lynch.

"There was other interest but I wanted to sign for Sunderland.

"It's a great club and, as soon as I spoke to Mick McCarthy, I was impressed."

Big name signings and mass competition always kept Lynch out of contention for a place in United's backline, and towards the end of 2001 he was sent to St. Johnstone to gain valuable first-team experience in Scotland. The defender was a regular in the reserve team last season, but with more defenders joining the club over the summer another season of frustration was on the cards for the 22-year-old.

Good luck to Lynch at the Stadium of Light.