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Kirkland signs new four-year Wigan contract

21/05/2008

Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has put pen to paper on a new four-year contract, which will keep him at the club until at least the summer of 2012.

The England international, 27, was a key member of the Latics squad that successfully avoided relegation from the Premier League this season.

And Kirkland's form was one of the major reasons behind Wigan's survival, as he conceded only five goals at home since the turn of the year. He has kept 20 clean sheets in his 64 appearances for the club since signing from Liverpool in 2006.

"I could not be more pleased to have Chris commit his future to Wigan Athletic," manager Steve Bruce told the club's website.

"Everyone knows what a professional Chris is, I knew Chris was a good goalkeeper before I joined but until I had worked with him I didn't realise just how good he actually is.

"When I joined the club we were shipping on average over two goals a game, and no matter how good your strikers are, it is virtually impossible to score three goals in this league to win every game.

"So it is no coincidence that Chris' run of clean sheets [and] the good form of the team defensively meant that we picked up 31 points in about the last 30 games to secure our status with a game to go."

Kirkland's renewed commitment to the club will provide "an excellent foundation" for next season, Bruce added, and said securing the team's existing talent was just as important as bringing in new players.