Nick Carle has completed a permanent transfer to Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee.

The Australian has signed a four-year contract after agreeing terms and passing a medical with the London club.

It brings to an end the midfielder's seven-month stay with City, whom he joined from Turkish club Genclerbirligi back in January for an undisclosed sum.

Gary Johnson told bcfc.co.uk: "You can't always give all the reasons for why you've done something, but the most important thing is we're doing it for the right reasons."

Gavin Williams joined last Friday, but Gary insists the former Ipswich Town midfielder is not a direct replacement for the outgoing Carle.

"That would be unfair," he said. "They're different types of players, although of course both are midfielders.

"You want to get your midfield players scoring goals as well as creating them and I'm trying to get the best team together to do that.

"I can understand any surprise there is amongst our supporters [about the Nick Carle move] but I think I've been here long enough for people to know...[that] every decision I make is for the betterment of this football club."

Carle made 20 appearances in City colours since his switch from Turkey, but failed to find the net once.