Blackburn trio sign new deals

Blackburn Rovers have agreed new deals with three players – Stephen Warnock, Martin Olsson and Matt Derbyshire – that will keep them at Ewood Park until the summer of 2012.

The 26-year-old Warnock said the new contract was the reward for his play during this season's Premier League campaign after joining Mark Hughes' outfit from Liverpool in January 2007.

He told www.rovers.co.uk: “It is fantastic, I think the club offering me a new deal is reward for what I've been doing and obviously I've been doing something right.

“It is a massive thing to be offered a new contract and when you see how the club is progressing and how things are going then you want to be part of that, and things are going well so I can't really argue.”

Warnock was unable to nail down a first team place at Liverpool but has been a fixture for Blackburn.

Olsson, 19, who joined Rovers just over two years ago from Swedish side Hogaborgs BK, was pleased to agree a new deal and is keen to make a first-team breakthrough next season after making his second Premier League appearance as a substitute in the 3-1 win over Derby at the weekend.

“I'm very happy to have signed a new deal, it is what I've been working hard for, to get a contract with the first team,” Olsson said.

“I've been doing well, I've been working hard, I came here two years ago and now I'm delighted to get that first-team contract.