by roey316 » Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:40 am
Stevie in the Echo
STEVEN GERRARD today insisted the speculation which has plagued the last two years of his Anfield career will end with today's contract signing.
Gerrard will pen a four-year deal which, he revealed, will not contain any get-out clauses.
The Liverpool skipper says he never wants the events of this summer and the last pre-season to be repeated and wants the world to know he is fully committed to one club.
Explaining his decision to stay, an emotional Gerrard told the ECHO today: "The last five or six weeks were the hard-est of my life because I wrongly believed the club didn't want me. I don't want to get into attaching blame to anyone.
"If I blame anyone, it's myself. I wanted my future sorted out as soon as possible after the Champions League final and when that wasn't the case, the longer it went on, the more misunderstandings there were.
"There was confusion and doubt in my mind. I had discussions with the manager, but the reports of bust-ups are complete nonsense. Now I know how much the club wants me.
"I feel I must defend my agent, Struan Marshall, in this. He's taken a lot of stick but all along he's never done anything I didn't ask him to.
"He's well respected at Liverpool and has done deals for me and other players in the past. He's conducted himself in the right way.
"He's a big factor in my decision to stay and organising the contract.
"I'll be signing the deal, maybe even today. I'd also like it known there are no clauses in that contract. This won't be happening again next summer or ever again, so far as I'm concerned.
"I've committed my long-term future to the club and I want all the speculation to end now. This is what I've wanted all along."
Gerrard hopes the fans understand the conflicting pressures he's been under but accept why the crisis developed and now get behind him and the club.
"I feel there is a weight off my mind today and I just want us to put this mess behind us," he said.
"I've only one medal left to win at Liverpool and that's the Premiership. That's what I want more than anything and Liverpool is the only place I've ever wanted to win it.
"I know there are some fans who'll be supportive and some who won't be. All I can say is it's been a difficult period for me, but I know I've made the right decision.
"In my heart, this is my club. I want to help bring success here for them and, for their sake and my own, I never want to go through this again."
YNWA. Justice for the 96.