Tully signs contract extension

STEVE Tully today gave new head coach Steve Johnson a boost by pledging his long-term future to Weymouth.

The Terras player-of-the-year has penned a 12-month contract extension with the club, taking his current Wessex Stadium deal through to May 2007.

And Johnson admitted he was delighted the former Torquay United defender has inked the new improved deal for the Nationwide South promotion hopefuls.

He told Echosport: "I see Steve as being a big player for me.

"In the games I've seen us play so far I've been really impressed by him and I know everyone at the club thinks very highly of him.

"The fact he won the player-of-the-year award last year tells its own story and I'm pleased he has committed to a longer deal.

"He is just 23 years of age, which is ideal, because he is a great prospect for the club.

"But at the same time he is also hungry to get back into the professional game and that is what we need here.

"Steve's new contract is a good bit of

business both for the club and for Steve and hopefully he can be a key player for me in the coming months."

Director of football Matthew McGowan said the club Tully deserved his new deal after arriving at the Wessex Stadium from Torquay United under former boss Geoff Butler in July 2002.

"We see Steve Tully as an integral part of our future and this new contract is a reflection of that," McGowan said.

"The board sat down with Steve and discussed the situation with him and his new contract fits in with the wage structure we have put in place at the club.

"This has capped a good week of business for us. We've appointed Steve, signed Kirk Jackson and now got Tulls on a longer contract. Things are looking positive for the future and we're hopeful of some more

player movement in the next week or so.

"Steve has identified the players he wants to bring in and, as a board, it is up to us to get them in at a cost we can afford."