O'Leary Opts To Stay

Why not visit our sponsors lounge

Kristian O'Leary has turned down a three year contract and the captaincy at Cheltenham to sign a one year deal to extend his stay at Swansea City.

O'Leary - bar a brief spell at Whaddon Road last season on loan - has spent all his career at the Swans and the lure of remaining part of Roberto Martinez squad was clearly too much for him despite the security of a three year deal on offer back in Cheltenham.

I guess that most expected him to take the latter but after some soul searching and discussion with friends and relatives he decided that he had to stay at the club that he has supported all his life.

Talking after the announcement that he would be signing on Kris said "Phoning the Cheltenham chairman (Paul Baker) to say that I was staying at Swansea was one of the hardest calls I have had to make,

"There aren't many three-year contracts on the table at this level so to turn it down was very difficult. "But I love Swansea - everyone knows that. This was a family decision. We all had our say - even my little girl, "I have been committed to this club since I was a boy and I have shown my commitment again."

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins is pleased that the O'Leary contraction situation has been sorted out. "People like Kris are what this club are about and the last thing we wanted was for him to leave," he said.