Jody Morris has signed a two-year extension to his St Johnstone contract which keeps him at the club until 2012.

The former Leeds and Chelsea midfielder, who helped Saints win promotion last season, was in the final year of his previous deal. Morris, 30, has impressed in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this season and the 30-year-old had been linked with a move away from McDiarmid Park.

Morris said: "I'm happy here, enjoying my football and we have a tight-knit dressing room. I've had a new lease of life since coming to St Johnstone two years ago and I'm loving the SPL."

He added: "I didn't want to be sitting around at the end of the season wondering what the future held for me and my family."

Saints boss Derek McInnes added on the club's official website, www.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk: "I'm delighted that the club and Jody have been able to tie this up.

"He has been a real asset to us since he joined and he is a huge influence on the rest of the squad on and off the pitch and, most importantly, he is a great presence on the field during games.

"Already this season he has given me performances on the sort of level required in the SPL and he is a player that the younger boys can learn from.

"He's popular with the players, all the staff at the stadium and the fans so to have him commit to a further two years is a huge boost to us."