DEFENDER Albert Watson has extended his stay at the Showgrounds after signing a new one-year contract.

It had seemed likely that the long-serving defender had played his last game for Ballymena United in May after his previous contract expired - leading to much press speculation of a move away from the Braid.

24-year-old Albert, signed a new 12 month deal on Tuesday evening at the Showgrounds which will be his ninth year at the club, since making his debut back in December 2001 at the age of 16.

Having made 273 appearances for the first team, he will be looking to break the 300 appearance barrier next season which only a select band of players have managed to do, the last of which being Nigel Boyd in 2004.

* In other news midfielder Ryan Deans has signed for Championship 1 side Carrick Rangers, where he had spent the latter half of last season at on loan.

Whilst in a similar move Mark Picking has made his move to Ards permanent having spent last season on loan with the nomadic Championship club; Mark had made 88 appearances and scored 11 goals for the Sky Blues since joining from Linfield in 2006.