Joe Murphy has signed a new one-year deal at Scunthorpe despite interest from Premier League sides.
Scunny keeper rejects Premier League approaches to extend stay
Joe Murphy has signed a new one-year deal, with the option of a second, at Scunthorpe after he rejected offers from a number of Premier League sides.
The Scunthorpe goalkeeper reasoned that he still felt he owed the club for giving him the chance to play regular first-team football.
The 27-year-old has gone from strength to strength since signing for the Iron on a free transfer in May 2006 helping the Irish international become renowned as one of the best keepers outside the Premier League.
But despite interest from teams higher up Murphy never had any doubts about extending his stay at Scunthorpe.
"It's not that the clubs weren't the right option, I just thought that there is still unfinished business here," he told the
club's official website.
Top-flight interest
"There were one or two Premier League clubs but it would probably have meant sitting on the bench or sitting in the stands.
"Maybe three or four years down the line that would be the right option for me, but I've played here for three years of consecutive first-team football now and that's what I want to keep doing here.
"I think the reason why there were that many clubs in for me was because of the way I've done since I signed for Scunthorpe.
"I still feel I owe the club a bit and obviously if we stay up this time it rolls onto a second year which will be good as I'd be happy to sign another deal.
"I think this deal is right for both the club and myself and I'm glad to be here. I always said at the start of last season that Scunthorpe United were going to be my first option should we go up."
Murphy admitted that negotiations were slow to start with, although he insists that was not down to his wage demands.
"It's been a tough summer, there have been a few things to sort out but I was always on the phone to the gaffer (Nigel Adkins) trying to sort the deal out," he added.
"It wasn't because of demands or anything that it wasn't sorted sooner, it was just about being able to meet up to sort it out.
"I'm just happy to be here. I feel that myself, the team and the manager have something to prove this time."
