After inking a contract extension with Wellington Phoenix on Monday, defender Steven Taylor now wants the club to fight for a Grand Final berth this season.
Taylor signed a one-year extension with the Phoenix which will keep him at the club until the end of the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Season.
PLAYER NEWS | No show without Steven Taylor! 🙌🔥
The #Nix are delighted to confirm that defender, Steven Taylor, has signed a contract extension until the end of the @ALeague 2019/20 season.
Read more here 👉 https://t.co/qYmgPN8keT#StandUpWithYourNix #CreateHistory pic.twitter.com/v1UCIWNzp0
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) February 18, 2019
The former Premier League defender with Newcastle United has been a revelation for Phoenix this season, playing a key role in the club’s rise from pretenders to contenders.
Forming a formidable partnership with skipper Andrew Durante in the heart of defence, Phoenix currently sits in sixth place on the ladder, with a six-point gap to Newcastle Jets.
Speaking after his re-signing, Taylor told Wellington’s official website: “I feel at home in Wellington and I’m playing well so I’m very happy to be signing an extension here.
“The fans have been fantastic the whole season in getting behind us and I feel we’re only going to get stronger.
“Mark Rudan was a big reason behind my extension and the belief he has shown in me has been fantastic.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5977077914001
“The team are all working towards a bigger goal and that is to win and bring this club back to where it belongs.
“The goal for this season is to fight for a finals position and then to fight towards the Grand Final.”
Taylor has played in 18 of the 19 games this season, scoring one goal in the club’s 3-1 win over Sydney FC at Jubilee Stadium.
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He’ll be hoping to repeat the dose when the two clubs meet again on Saturday, with the Phoenix playing their home match against the Sky Blues at Campbelltown Stadium.
“Taylor has been a prominent figure this year alongside Andrew Durante and I am extremely pleased that he has signed for another year,” coach Mark Rudan said.
“It just shows we’re not only building towards finals this year but we are building for next year as well.”