I'll Stay and Fight
11:33am Saturday 1st April 2006 in Latest News By Jon Ritson
STEFANI Miglioranzi insists he wants to retain the tag of Town's longest serving player and fight to win favour once again.
The midfielder has been offered another year at the County Ground and would like to extend that by a further 12 months, based on appearances.
That is still for further discussion but the New Yorker says this is where he wants to be.
The last month has been tough for the 28-year-old, the midfielder finding himself on the sidelines as the survival scrap hots up.
For a man who has been a regular' for most of his four seasons at the club, it's not easy to deal with.
Not that Miglioranzi is a prima donna who takes the view that he is above being dropped.
No player is happy to be out of the team but the former Portsmouth man is both philosophical and honest.
He said: "I haven't played well enough to be a mainstay in the team.
"I'm kind of disappointed in myself for that.
"I want to be part of the fight but sometimes you have to take it in your stride.
"It's a tough position to be in, I'm not used to it and as I said, you have to get on with it.
"Fortunately I've had some good people behind me to get my head straight and point me in the right direction when I've needed it."
And there is no question of him now looking for the exit door.
He said: "I do want to stay.
"From my understanding and a contract offer having been made they (the club) want me to be here so there should be no problem.
"I had the letter from the club, pretty much around the same time as the other lads.
"My agent talked to them about tweaking it (the offer) a little bit.
"The money they offered was fine, it was just an issue of an extra year if I made a certain number of appearance, stuff like that.
"I've left my agent to it so I can concentrate on the football.
"I haven't heard anything back."
At least the midfielder can count his blessings on the injury front this year.
He said: "Fortunately, I've remained fit for the majority of the season.
"I had an ankle injury at the beginning of the year but it's been clear going apart from that."
Deputy chairman Mark Devlin said yesterday: "Negotiations continue with a number of players on the contracts front and I'm due to meet for further discussions with their representatives next week."
