Tessem extends Saints stay.

Tessem - Happy at New Deal

15/1/2002 Jo Tessem has signed a new deal, extending his contract with the club by another year. The Norwegian has been left out of Gordon Strachan's side since the new manager's arrival and there were rumours that Jo would be among the first to depart the club. Jo's contract will now expire in June 2005 and he is understandably pleased saying: "I am very pleased to have got it sorted out because it has dragged on for a while. But now I can concentrate on getting back in the team."

"Of course it is disappointing to be left out but the team has been playing well so it is hard to get back in. And that is the way it should be.

"I have not played for a while so I have lost a bit of match fitness and with that a bit of confidence. But that will soon come back and I have not lost any belief in my own ability.

"I know I can do a job in the Premiership so it is up to me to get my head down and work even harder to fight my way back. I just want to play football. That is what I love.

"But I know I have to be patient, wait for my chance and then do my best to take it. It is not long since I broke into the Norwegian national side and I need to be playing if I am going to stay in their squad.

"However, it is hard for the manager to change the side at the moment. The lads are doing really well and I just have to do my best to give him an extra option."