MOTHERWELL have announced captain Keith Lasley has signed a new one-year contract at the club.
Negotiations between the Lanarkshire side and their 36-year-old skipper had been ongoing for several months as both parties attempted to reach an agreement after a handful of first-team stars were asked to take a salary cut on new deals.
HeraldSport revealed last week that a new contract was close to being completed for the veteran midfielder, and Motherwell have now confirmed Lasley will remain in claret and amber for another year.
“It has taken a bit of time, but I am really pleased we’ve managed to get a deal done and I am raring to go for the new season,” he said.
“I’ve never made any secret of my feelings for this club; everything we’ve been through and enjoyed together over fifteen or so years. It has been brilliant, and I am sure there can be more good times to come.”
“Pre-season is just days away, so I am sure everyone will be champing at the bit come the big kick-off next month.”
Lasley has played more than 450 games for Motherwell over two spells, and is the joint-record holder for the number of European appearances for the club.
Manager Mark McGhee added: “Keith is one of our most effective players so from a footballing sense, I am delighted to have him for at least one more year.
“However, he is more than just that for us – he’s a captain in every sense of the word. He, along with some of our other excellent senior pros, help set the culture at the club and take a real involvement in other areas such as the Under 20s and the Academy.
“When you’re building a squad, which we’re doing, you need guys who know what the club, the support and its expectations are all about, and that’s Las.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here