Shorey is latest to sign on

Royals left back Nicky Shorey has penned a new three year deal with the club which will see him stay at the Madejski Stadium until 2009.

The highly rated defender has been a key member of Reading's first team over the last few seasons and was instrumental in last season's promotion campaign, even making it into the PFA's Championship Team of the Season, highlighting many people's belief that he was the strongest left-back outside the top flight.

Signed from Leyton Orient in 2001, Shorey has proved a real gem making 218 appearances for the club and is tipped by many to make the step up to Premiership football with ease, so this contract will go some way to settle Royals fans nerves of him being lured away.

Shorey has extended his stay in the wake of young striker Shane Long also committing himself to the club until 2009, and USA International Bobby Convey also signing on for another three years.

Having experienced such a remarkable campaign, storming to the Championship title with a record points haul, there were fears among some sectors that Reading's key players would be cherry-picked by more established Premiership teams, although the hope will now be that this trio of signatures can inspire more first-teamers to follow suit.

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