FORMER Sunderland goalkeeper Tim Carter has been found dead.

FORMER Sunderland goalkeeper Tim Carter has been found dead.

The ex-Black Cats shot stopper was reported missing from his home in Durham early on Thursday morning.

His body was discovered in bushes by a passer-by in Manchester just after noon on Thursday.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “Shortly after 12pm on June 19 police were called to Highfield Close in Stretford following reports of a body found.

“Officers attended and found the body of a 40-year-old man.

“There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.”

Mr Carter, who was recently appointed as Sunderland's academy goalkeeping coach, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Carter played 50 games for the Premiership club between 1987 and 1992.

He was the first-team goalkeeping coach before the arrival of ex-Manchester Utd star Raimond Van Der Gouw last summer.