Source: FOOTYMAD
Brunt signs contract extension
'Settled' midfielder pens new deal Midfield ace Chris Brunt has signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2013. The Northern Ireland international has penned a three-year deal, with a year in the club’s favour, after playing a pivotal role in helping the Baggies gain promotion last season. The 25-year-old signed from Sheffield Wednesday for £3 million back in 2007. Since then Brunt has gone on to be a fans’ favourite and scooped the club’s official Player of the Season Award in the 2008/09 season. Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo is pleased to see the versatile midfielder follow in the footsteps of Jerome Thomas, Youssouf Mulumbu and Graham Dorrans in committing his future to the club. “Brunty fully deserves his new deal as he is an important player for us both on and off the field,” the Italian said. “He was a pillar of our promotion success last season and he has another important role to play this season as we look to establish ourselves in the Premier League.” The winger admitted it was an easy decision to extend his stay in the Black Country claiming the direction of club played a major part. "The club's heading in the right direction and this is a nice bonus ahead of what I hope will be a big season both for the team and on a personal level,” said Brunt. "I've won promotion with the club twice now and I want to top that by helping to establish Albion in the Premier League."That's the challenge facing the coaching staff and players and if we all pull together I believe we can have a successful season."The fans have been great to me during the past three years and I'm sure they'll get right behind us next season when we will need them more than ever."
