Ryan Bertrand signing a new contract is a real show of belief in the club's intent to continue to build on the foundations of the last couple of years.

Ryan Bertrand signing a new deal is great news for Saints fans, of course we are all delighted that the left back has signed a five year deal as it puts paid to speculation that next summer he might be another player we are forced to sell as they run into the final year of their contract, but it is more than that.

When Ronald Koeman left there was the worry that the likes of Fraser Forster and Virgil Van Dyke had all signed new contracts on the beck of Koeman's influence and that with the Dutchman gone they would be unsettled and perhaps open to being poached by Koeman for his new club Everton.

But Bertrand has signed this deal well after the Dutch manager has departed and this is proof that our current squad believe in what the club are trying to achieve and do not consider that its success rests on one man's influence alone.

Two years ago there was uncertainty and Mauricio Pochettino departing was a problem, now the situation is far different.

There will be those that cynically say that money talks and Ryan Bertrand has been well paid to sign a new deal, that cannot be denied, but that shows that the club is not trying to do things on the cheap, something that those cynics try to level at it when they see players sold for top dollar and replaced by two players of a lesser transfer fee, the club has a strategy and it is now in a position to do more to keep the senior players who they deem crucial to our success, every player has their price and we will continue to sell players when we have bids far beyond a players value, as was shown with Sadio Mane.

Saints strategy is long term and we are still in reality only two years into it, there will be setbacks along the way, but Ryan Bertrand's new contract is landmark in the fact that it proves that our players are now taking us very seriously and not just as a stepping stone to bigger things and if they think that, then those that join us in the future will also do the same.

Photo: Action Images

Chesham_Saint added 07:55 - Jul 13 It's hard to disagree with any of that. I still think we need to recruit and ideally improve the team after this summer's departures.
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LordDZLucan added 08:44 - Jul 13 Very, very encouraging. This is the way forward - keep the players we've already got first of all before looking to buy new players. By my reckoning we've now only got Long and Tadic left to tie down to longer contracts. It will enable us to build over close seasons in the future rather than fight to stand still.
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davenbennett added 09:01 - Jul 13 Very good news. I do confess to being a bit of a "bedwetter" in the past, but I do think I understand what is going on a bit better now. If a player wants to go, then then the club will usually let them, if it suits. Especially, if like Pelle, get very very good money for them. I think we are going to see a turnover of players every year, and maybe the manager every 2 years. Some signings are not going to work, Juanmi, but to date, most have. So, tie into long contracts the players who want to stay, and get in players who may need to prove themselves so are a bit cheaper. I still think we need a reserve keeper, an other CB, as do not know who good Gardos is, and another winger/CF.

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froggysaint added 09:34 - Jul 13 It is significant that several of our key players have signed new long contracts, the more so as (like Steven Davis) he has signed long after the departure of RK. Good to know that these guys don't buy the "lack of ambition" nonsense we've heard from departing managers who have not been allowed to spend like drunken sailors. I suspect that players like Ryan, who have experienced the green grass on the other side of the fence at so called "big clubs" may not have found that experience as fulfilling or as valuable in terms of their own development as their life at Saints. Being picked every week for first team football has to beat sitting on the bench a lot and/or being sent out on loan all over the place. Further, if you look at the progress many senior players have made at the club over the years, it is proof of the excellent set up we have for player development at our club.

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BaselSaint added 10:08 - Jul 13 Great news - often in recent times, waiting so long for VVD to sign for example, we didn't know even know if we had a defence ready for the challenge of the new season. Its great to start with that established.
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Sanguin added 10:23 - Jul 13 Cuco Martina and Lloyd Isgrove’s contracts expire in 2017, they may be contracts we opt not to extend. Tadic, Romeu, Fonte and Long’s contracts all expire in 2018. Fonte will be 34 by then and Long 31 so perhaps they will wait to see how their age affects their form. The next pieces in the puzzle will be Tadic and Romeu to see if they will extend, or run down their contracts to secure moves. Gardos, Yoshida, Harrison Reed, Sam Gallagher and Sam McQueen’s contracts all expire in 2018 too, but I think this season will be make or break for them to prove whether they have futures at Saints.

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SanMarco added 11:04 - Jul 13 I am delighted with this - maybe does show how the club is intending to move forward. I agree with Chesham though that we still need some more coming in, esp. goal scorer and back-up CB.
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IWOZTHERE added 11:35 - Jul 13 Excellent news and very encouraging for the future. Credit to all involved.
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bstokesaint added 12:31 - Jul 13 I've a lot of respect for Ryan. He's a consistent performer and along with recent contract-extendees Fraser and VVD a pivotal part of one of the best defences in the Premiership. The fact that the other two are Euro Cup winners says a lot. Saints' success in recent seasons has been down to a solid defence, with a solid pairing just in front. I thought we really diced with the strategy in the past couple of seasons, but we've got it right. Excellent work again Les. For all of his critics the bloke does a heck of a lot of good stuff. Just need a couple of exciting attacking players now..

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BoondockSaint added 13:33 - Jul 13 Nice that he signed, but you do realize this is a Football Contract? Some club could come in with an offer next week and he's gone. Yes it gives the Saints a little more leverage, but if a player at any club wants out they are out and the new club renegotiates the contract and Saints say it "was a good bit of business" A better sign of ambition is bringing in better players than the ones that left. If my maths (and Wikipedia) are right, 29 goals just walked out the door with Mane and Pelle.

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SanMarco added 19:19 - Jul 13 Yes Boondock but it is an indication that he doesn't "want out" at the moment though isn't it? Totally agree we need to sign some goals though...
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bstokesaint added 20:23 - Jul 13 Boondock, it's a bit like a round of golf. Everyone wants those birdies to better their score, but you need to be able to rely on the solid pars to keep your score intact. The birdies will come, but for the meantime let's keep the round ticking over nicely. As Marco says players don't generally tend to sign new contracts if they're unhappy.
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