Southend defender Adam Barrett has pledged his future to the club by signing a new four-and-a-half-year deal with the League One outfit.United snubbed a £250,000 bid from Colchester for the 28-year-old last month and Barrett's new contract will keep him at Roots Hall until 2012.

Barrett told the club's official website: "I'm pleased to have signed. Now my long-term future is sorted I can concentrate on getting us back into the Championship.

"This is a special club to me, I used to watch them as a kid and all of my family are season ticket holders.

"The length of the deal has shown good faith by the chairman (Rob Martin)."

Martin added: "He's a leader on the field and an ambassador off it, this deal stands the club in good stead for the future."

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