KEITH McPherson has agreed a new one-year contract with Albion, just eight weeks after joining them.

Manager Micky Adams has clinched the signature of the former Reading stalwart brought to the club by his predecessor Jeff Wood.

Adams said: "Keith is an older and experienced professional who has still got a bit of life in him."

Wood signed Londoner McPherson, 35, shortly before the March transfer deadline to shore up the centre of a defence leaking goals and results at an alarming rate.

He played in the last ten games of the campaign under three different managers.

Caretaker Martin Hinshelwood made the ex-West Ham apprentice captain for his one match in charge at Plymouth and McPherson retained the armband when Adams was appointed for the final five fixtures.

McPherson, who spent nearly nine years at Reading, said: "I'm delighted. Micky Adams must have liked what he has seen.

"It has been very eventful. Jeff brought me down and when the chairman decided he had to go that made my position precarious. When something like that happens all you can do is play well."

McPherson has made over 500 appearances during his career, including more than 200 for Northampton.

He helped them to promotion from the old Fourth Division in 1987 and he said: "I know all about the hustle and bustle at this level. It's a matter of being organised.

"A lot of players have left in the last few days, but that's football. The gaffer has made it clear he wants promotion, which is good for the club and the fans.

"We are going to be playing back in Brighton next season and he wants winners."

Jamie Moralee, one of the three Albion players entitled to a free transfer under the Bosman ruling, has joined Colchester on a one-year contract.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.