Sam Saunders said he was “delighted” to sign a new two-year contract at Brentford Football Club and be part of “exciting” developments at Griffin Park.
The 29-year-old, who joined from Dagenham and Redbridge in the summer of 2009, put pen to paper on a new contract last week, committing his future to The Bees until the summer of 2015.
Sam, speaking to Bees Player, said he felt Brentford was his team now and wanted to be part of a club on the up.
He said he sat down with Owner Matthew Benham, Sporting Director Mark Warburton and Manager Uwe Rösler when he knew he would not make the required number of appearances to trigger an automatic extension to the contract he signed last year.
And he added he wanted to build on Brentford’s third-place finish in npower League One last season and subsequent defeat in the Play-Off Final to help The Bees win promotion to the second tier.
“I was delighted to be offered the deal,” said Sam.
“This is my club now.
“I have been here four years and really enjoyed it.
“I am passionate about the Club and I am delighted to be a part of it for the next two years.
“I was aware of my situation coming to the end of the season.
“I didn’t make the number of games required for the automatic extension and that was a little bit worrying.
“But that happens.
“I can only do my best and when I sat down and spoke with the gaffer, Mark Warburton and Matthew, the owner, I was delighted they offered me a deal.
“Two years is good for both parties.
“I want to continue what we started and get promotion.
“This is a club on the up; it is a good place to be.
“It is exciting to be a part of it.”
Brentford came within a whisker of automatic promotion last season and Sam admitted it was tough to miss out.
The Bees finished third in npower League One last season – losing on the final day of the season to Doncaster Rovers when a win would have taken them up.
The Bees had the chance to clinch automatic promotion but fired a last minute penalty against the crossbar before Doncaster broke to score and win the game.
Brentford then lost to Yeovil Town in the Play-Off Final at Wembley.
They dominated the second half but were 2-0 down at the break and could not recover.
Sam said it was important to look forward and build on what had been achieved.
“I honestly thought we would win,” said the attacking midfield player.
“I thought we were destined to do it in the Play-Off Final after what had happened.
“When the whistle went it was tough.
“I wasn’t sure if that was my last game for the Club and it was emotional.
“But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and we have always kicked on from disappointments.
“Hopefully we can do that again.
“Yeovil started better than us.
“We had nothing to lose in the second half and if we had got a second goal we would have got the victory.
“But, it wasn’t meant to be and we have to look for this season now.
“Everyone is a year older and wiser and hopefully we can take that on.”
Sam said Manager Uwe Rösler would not allow his players to suffer a hangover from the loss.
He said the players would be ready to go again when they return for pre-season training next week.
“There won’t be a hangover,” he said.
“We will do an intense training camp in Germany.
“The gaffer won’t stand for anyone moping.
“We have to get on with it.
“We can only affect what happens this season.
“We will have had four or five weeks off when we come back and we will be ready to go again.
“Sometimes losing drives you to do something better in the long run.”
Sam said the players he had spoken to this summer couldn’t wait to get back and start the push for promotion again.
He said there was no need to fear any team in League One.
“If we play how we can play I don’t think we should be scared of anyone,” said Sam.
“Teams will respect us this season and that could work for us.
“All the players have been there and done it in League One.
“The lads can’t wait to get back.
“We missed second place on the last day of the season.
“Hopefully we can find a couple of per cent improvement and get automatic promotion.
“We set a goal of the Play-Offs last year and got there comfortably.
“If we can do better than that I am sure I will here next season delighted.”
Sam said pre-season training would not be easy but he was looking forward to the friendly schedule.
The Bees play Scottish Premier League Champions Celtic, Premier League Cardiff City and Championship Millwall at Griffin Park in July.
Sam said it was a chance for the players to test themselves against the best teams, like they did in an FA Cup Fourth Round tie against Chelsea last season.
“This is my 12th pre-season and they don’t get any easier,” he said.
“We train hard for a reason.
“Pre-season is not fun but it is part of the job.
“The gaffer doesn’t do needless running here.
“Everything is based on sports science.
“I have done pre-seasons with hill runs and caveman stuff but everyone does a good job here.
“Everything is planned here and done for a reason.
“You can see with the late goals last season how fit we are – that has come from the work we do here.
“Everyone looks forward to the games starting.
“Celtic have a massive history and Cardiff have just been promoted to the Premier League.
“Everyone wants to test themselves against the best teams – like we did against Chelsea last year.
“It is pre-season, I don’t imagine it will be 100 per cent from them but it is a good work out and that is what we need.”
Sam Saunders’ Bees Player interview was broadcast in two parts – subscribers can see it here and here.