Matt McKay signs new one-year deal with Brisbane Roar

Brisbane Roar favourite Matt McKay has signed a new, one-year deal to stay with the club next season.

Brisbane Roar veteran Matt McKay says his one-year deal isn’t necessarily his last contract.

Brisbane Roar favourite Matt McKay has signed a new one-year deal to stay with the club next season but is adamant that the shortness of the contract does not mean it would be his last.

In what is a boost to the Queensland club, the 33-year-old, 207-game veteran of the club said it took him just 15 minutes to agree to re-sign and “just 30 seconds to agree on a price”.

“It was all very easy,” McKay said of the negotiations. “It’s a great club and I have enjoyed my time here. The happier you are, the better you play.

“Being a one-year deal doesn’t bother me. It keeps me hungry, then I can decide.

“Sometimes you don’t want to play. But I am loving the game and enjoying being part of the team.

“I can’t say it is my last contract because you never know what can happen. Eighteen months is a long time and I’m only looking to this season before worrying about what will happen after next season.”

A former Socceroo, McKay has been a mainstay of the Roar for 10 of the 11 seasons of the A-League aside from stints in Scotland, China and South Korea.

McKay hopes that his decision to stay with the Roar will act as a catalyst for other off-contract players to join him, notably classy striker Jamie Maclaren, who has been linked with a move to Western Sydney and Europe.

The likes of midfielder Thomas Kristensen, goalkeeper Michael Theo and defender Luke DeVere are also at the end of their ­contracts.

“Hopefully it spurs on a few more to sign up,” McKay said.

“It’s the nature of the game that players come and go but we have a great club and a good bond. I hope we can keep the core together. They are a great bunch and really talented.”

McKay said the club would quickly put behind it the drama surrounding defender Jade North, who was forced to apologise on Monday after his embarrassing dive in the match against Melbourne City on Friday.

“I feel for Jade a bit, to be honest,” he said. “Obviously we don’t want that sort of stuff in the game but that’s not in him.

“He is a great guy and we back him all the way. I just think this has been blown out of proportion. They (North and Bruno Forna­roli) had a running battle all day. Jado just got wound up a bit.”

Melbourne City defender ­Michael Jakobsen does not ­believe the A-League has ­issues regarding players diving.

“I’ve seen worse,” Jakobsen said. “When I played in Spain it was hilarious sometimes. You get a small knock and someone falls over like someone tried to take out their legs. But it’s not a big issue here.”

Meanwhile, Central Coast have secured the signature of ­exciting winger Trent Buhagiar for another two seasons.

Following some impressive ­efforts this season, the 18-year-old local junior will be with the club until at least the end of the 2018-19 season.