After months of speculation about his future, Melbourne Victory have officially announced that club captain Mark Milligan has signed a bumper three-year deal as the team’s new Australian marquee.
The deal sees the 29-year-old continue into his fourth season as a Victory player, with his extended contract now running until the end of the 2016/17 A-League season.
Milligan admitted it had been a lengthy process ironing out the details of the deal, but it’s something that he’s glad to have sorted out.
“It’s been an ongoing process and I think it’s all been handled very well and at the end of the day nothing was rushed and everything has been dealt with properly,” Milligan said.
“I’m very comfortable with my decision to stay here and I’m very thankful that Melbourne has offered me the opportunity to do that.
“I think by me signing a three-year extension [at] Melbourne, I think I’m showing my commitment to the club and hopefully repaying the commitment they’ve shown me over the past few years.”
Kevin Muscat expressed his pleasure at retaining the services of his captain, with the coach beholden at Milligan’s decision to stay at the club.
“We sit here today grateful that the football club has allowed us to make an offer to Mark to keep him in Australia at Melbourne Victory. But also to Mark for believing in what we’re trying to build here,” Muscat said.
“I’ve got a very healthy relationship with Millsy and as I said, we’ve been in touch with each other for a long time.
“One thing’s for sure, Mark has certainly shown a great deal of commitment in re-signing with the football club.
The club also announced a new sponsorship agreement, with Community Training Initiatives becoming a new joint principle partner of the Victory, with their logo to appear on the front of their home kit for the next two seasons.