KEY POINTS:
All Whites goalkeeper Mark Paston has re-signed with Wellington Phoenix for another A-League soccer season.
The deal which will see Paston, 32, stay on for the 2009-10 season will give the club a sense of relief with reserve goalie Glen Moss leaving to join Melbourne Victory next year.
Paston, who was brought into the Phoenix as first choice keeper for the club's inaugural season, has been hampered by some unlucky injuries during his time with the Wellington outfit but he has grabbed his chances when fit.
"I'm a Kiwi, I've played for the [New Zealand] Knights and I've had two years here.
"I enjoy playing for a New Zealand-based club in the Australian league and the Phoenix is a club I definitely wanted to stay at," Paston said yesterday.
Having recovered from a rib injury that kept him out of the Phoenix's previous two matches - a 1-1 draw with Perth Glory and last weekend's 1-0 win against the Central Coast Mariners - Paston is fit for this weekend's tie with Queensland Roar at Suncorp Stadium.
With Moss likely to retain the starting spot on Sunday, Paston is keen to renew the fierce rivalry with his compatriot.
"Obviously we've got the rest of the season to take care of and I'm definitely going to be fighting for the number one spot in the remaining five matches.
"Glen's come in and he's playing well, which is what everyone expected him to do, so it'll be tough getting back in the team."
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert said Paston had been a quality performer for the club and was a great acquisition for next season.
"We've worked through a list of players we wanted to retain for next season and Mark was always on that list.
The Phoenix are now searching for another keeper to complement Paston next season. "We need to back Mark up with another keeper who can challenge him for that starting spot and keep the competition right, but we'll take our time with that one," Herbert said.
With Paston fit and set to join the Phoenix squad in Brisbane this weekend, short-term injury replacement keeper Scott Higgins returns home to the Gold Coast.
Along with Paston, the re-signed or contracted players are Daniel, Ben Sigmund, Tim Brown, Tony Lochhead, Andrew Durante, Jon McKain, Leo Bertos, Michael Ferrante, David Mulligan, Vince Lia, Troy Hearfield, Costa Barbarouses and Manny Muscat.
- NZPA
