Wed Jul 2 13:28:15 2008

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Sunderland's Yorke signs one-year deal

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Sunderland, England (Sports Network) - Sunderland veteran Dwight Yorke will remain at the Stadium of Light for another season after agreeing a new one-year contract.

The 36-year-old converted midfielder was out of contract this summer but has opted to extend his two-year stay on Wearside.

The former Aston Villa and Manchester United star joined the Black Cats from Australian side Sydney FC in 2006 and helped the club win promotion to the Premier League in his first season.

Last term he made only 21 appearances, but his influence around the training ground promoted manager Roy Keane to offer him a new deal.

"Yorkie's experience on and off the pitch has been invaluable to us," he told the club's official website.

"He's a great character to have in the dressing room and around the training ground and he'll have a part to play for us next season."

Yorke, who admitted he considered other offers before penning a new deal with the Cats, was also delighted with the additional 12-month contract.

"It's been a tremendous two years for me at Sunderland," he revealed. "In the end, it was a straightforward decision. I had one or two things to think about and I knew I needed to make a decision. Once the manager gave me the thumbs up, it was easy to sign."

(Courtesy of sportbox.tv)