Perth Glory have signed both Jacob Burns and Billy Mehmet to two-year ciontract extensions.
Perth Glory captain Jacob Burns and striker Billy Mehmet have today both signed new contracts with the club until the end of the 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season.
“It-s fantastic, I am over the moon, really happy to be here and hopefully this year we can push into the finals again, Burns said.
“I think we have an opportunity to maybe have a home final and that-s something that sits in my belly and something that I really want to push towards.”
The signature of Burns is a massive coup for Perth Glory. In two seasons as leader, Burns has finished second and first in the club-s Most Glorious Player award and has again starred on the field this season.
Aged 33, Burns is still one of clubs- fitness players and the former Socceroo hasn-t ruled out playing beyond this contract.
“You look in Europe and these old guys just keep on signing new deals, so you never know,” he said.
“I can only take each game as it comes but the body is feeling really good, I’m feeling fit and well. I’m not thinking about anything beyond that.
“I’ve been playing the game for some 20-odd years so I’d love to stay involved in the game. I can’t see myself being away from it, I think I’d miss it too much.”
Mehmet said he was also delighted to be extending his time with Perth Glory having impressed in his first season. He has scored 4 goals so far this season while forming a strong striking partnership with Shane Smeltz.
“We-re good pals on the park and we-re good pals off the park,” Mehmet said of his friendship with Smeltz.
Mehmet, who has played in three different countries said the professionalism at Perth Glory compared to his previous stint in Turkey was a big reason why he was keen to stay.
“When you look at the way they treated people over there and you come here and see the comparison … it was a completely different world,” he said.
“We wouldn’t get paid on time, sometimes you wouldn’t even be training with the team. But here I’m happy and I’m glad I’ve got this sorted.”
