September 30 2007

Matt Lawrence

Matt Lawrence has signed an extension to his contract with Crystal Palace.

The defender's current deal was due to expire at the end of the season but Lawrence will now stay until at least summer 2009.

He joined from Millwall last year and has proved invaluable by being able to play at both full-back positions and in midfield also.

Lawrence told the South London Press: "This deal takes me close to my 35th birthday and I hope I'll do well enough to get another one after that.

"I still believe another couple of years as a player would be realistic. I hope that can be with Palace.

"They were the club that gave me the chance to stay in the Championship after I left Millwall and I hope I've repaid the faith they placed in me."

Manager Peter Taylor is thrilled to secure the 33-year-old's services for another season.

"Matt is a very professional player and we need people like that around the place," he said. "I think we only paid £50,000 to get him and he's just what a squad needs because he can play in lots of positions - he just gets on with it."