The new deal has taken a while to sort out, but there was never any question about me staying. I just wanted to ensure all the details were absolutely right. I want to captain this club in what is hopefully going to be a very successful period.

It has been a terrific season, one of the best ever whilst I have been at the club. We are a club with a very bright future and I am looking forward to being part of that.

It is enjoyable, every match is big and that's the way you like them. It is getting very tight up there and it is going to be like that for the rest of the season.

We've got to lift ourselves, we are at home for the next two games and we will go into them with confidence.

We've got to lift ourselves, we are at home for the next two games and we will go into them with confidence. They have been great and have surprised a lot of people - probably themselves a little bit too. It is going to be a tough game and they will not give any team an easy ride.

I was shocked. But I don't think morale will suffer. The lads always stick together. I don't think there will be a problem with the manager and, even if there was, the players are striving for the same goal ­ to bring the World Cup home. I don't think it will have a negative effect. It will have a positive one.