Carr signs new Spurs deal - November 27, 2000
Stephen Carr signed a one-year extension to his Tottenham contract over the weekend which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2004-05 season.
Speculation had linked Carr with a move to Manchester United. However the player was always adamant that he wanted to stay at White Hart Lane but that he wanted to be paid what he was worth.
There are no details of the financial gain of his new contract but it must be substantial or he would not have signed. Carr, who was voted Spurs player of the year last season, was one of the worst-paid player at the club, only earning £5,000 a week.
During negotiations with David Pleat he was offered £14,000 but he refused it because it did not match what other players were earning.
Carr said: "I'm absolutely delighted. At the end of the day I don't think it has affected my game but you don't need it on your mind.
"With all the speculation it is just good to get it all out of the way and for me to be happy - and I'm very happy. There was a lot of haggling and this and that over the last couple of months but it has been worth it in the end. I've got what I wanted and I think all parties are happy.
"The one thing I did not want happening was my performances to be affected," he declared. "Luckily I stayed focused and kept performing quite well and I'm just relieved it's all over.
"There was a lot of speculation, a lot of people saying this and that but I have not said once that I wanted to leave. I did say I would have to review things if it wasn't sorted out. I just wanted what I felt I deserved, not what other people said I deserved, what I felt personally.
"Once you are happy personally you don't care what other people think. Once I got that there was no question of me not signing a deal. The club have been willing to come up with what I wanted and I was happy to sign."