Richard Lee said he was delighted to sign a new Brentford FC contract.
The goalkeeper signed a new deal yesterday to keep him at Griffin Park until the end of the 2014/15 season.
He spoke to Bees Player after signing the contract and said he always wanted to stay.
Richard spoke to Brentford Manager Mark Warburton and Sporting Director Frank McParland in the past few weeks to agree terms.
Richard missed the end of last season, and the start of the current campaign, with a shoulder injury and said even though he played games in September, it is only in the last three months he has felt fully fit.
The goalkeeper said he would push David Button, who has played the majority of games for The Bees this term, for his place.
“I am delighted,” said Richard.
“I had a conversation with the gaffer and Frank a couple of weeks ago.
“Thankfully they are pleased with what I have been doing, albeit not playing too often; they have been pleased with how I have trained.
“We came to an agreement for another year and I am delighted to be part of it.
“I always wanted to stay.
“It has been a tough year.
“It started with a shoulder injury, which has been the toughest to get back from that I have had.
“I came back within six months but a few months after that it still wasn’t quite right.
“The last three months, I have felt as good as I have felt for years.
“I have massively enjoyed it and am keen to be part of it.
“I want to push on and push David for a place.
“When we sat down I was massively keen to sign.
“This club is going in the right direction and I want to be part of it.”
Richard said he had a few things in his head when he agreed to sign.
He said he wanted to play regular First Team football and would aim to fight for his spot.
He said David Button had done well but he believed he could take his chance when it came.
“I had a few things in my head,” said Richard.
“I want to play, that goes without saying.
“I am 31 and have been pleased with how I have played previously.
“I haven’t had to make that decision for a while and that was my decision this time.
“I had been struggling for a while before my operation.
“Now, I feel in good form and I want to play.
“David is doing well.
“My immediate job is to push him and have faith that when a chance comes I will be able to take it and hold on to it.”
Richard said Brentford’s goalkeeper group – Coach Simon Royce and fellow stoppers David Button, Liam O’Brien and Jack Bonham – was a strong one.
“David and I live a mile from each other, we car share,” said Richard.
“I am pleased for him, we get on well and he has come through a sticky patch and performed excellently in the past few months.
“Jack and Liam are young lads, very talented.
“It is a strong group of goalkeepers and we are a strong union.
“Simon Royce has been good for me personally and with all four of us.”
Richard said the idea of how Brentford now want to play football was “phenomenal” and was something he wanted to be part of.
He said new boss Mark Warburton, who replaced Uwe Rösler in December, wanted the players to express themselves and the atmosphere was incredibly positive.
“The set-up now is as professional as anywhere I have been, it probably wasn’t when I arrived,” said Richard.
“The way we play football is so modern.
“I have played in teams that play percentage football, get the ball in the right areas and hope to get a break.
“This dynamic here and the idea of how Brentford plays is phenomenal.
“We build attack after attack.
“That is being matched off the field.
“It is something I want to be part of.
“The managerial change went as smoothly as it could.
“Mark has continued a lot of what was good and the atmosphere is more positive.
“He wants us to express ourselves and give the best they can.
“The players have responded well to him and we have a lot of respect for him.
“The lads are very happy.”
Brentford’s last two matches – at home to Crawley Town and away to Sheffield United – have been postponed due to waterlogged pitches.
Richard admitted it was frustrating but said the high quality of training had helped the players deal with it.
He said there was a positive mood ahead of tomorrow’s match away to Crewe Alexandra.
“The weather has been frustrating but training is such high intensity it has been good,” said Richard.
“The games will be played when they are played.
“We keep the mentality that we can win every game we play and it doesn’t matter how often we play.
“We will prepare for the games being on and hopefully this one will be.
“The mood in the camp is good.
“The lads are in a good place and I have no doubt that if we keep doing what we are doing, we will be alright.”
Bees Player subscribers can see the full interview with Richard Lee here.