RICHARD Dryden has signed a new 18-month contract on the eve of his first anniversary as Worcester City manager.

Dryden, who was appointed Andy Preece’s successor on November 28 last year, has committed himself to the St George’s Lane club until the end of the 2009/10 season.

The 39-year-old’s present deal was due to expire at the end of the current campaign and he had been in talks to extend that.

Lane legend Carl Heeley, who is on a rolling contract, will remain as assistant manager and Steve Ball as physio.

Dryden, a former Southampton and Birmingham City defender, is delighted to have signed on the dotted line and is looking forward to continuing the job he has started.

He said: “The results have not been great in the last month but we are trying to build foundations to keep the club going and we are having a go on quite a low budget.

“The board appreciate what Carl and I are doing and hopefully we can push the club forward.

“The directors asked me around six weeks ago about a new contract and talks have been ongoing.

“It’s just nice to get it over and done with and concentrate on the football side.”

Dryden’s appointment took most people by surprise but he won the fans over immediately by masterminding a six-game unbeaten run.

He led the team to 12th place in Blue Square North and the final of the Worcestershire Senior Cup before overseeing a major squad rebuild when the club switched to the South in the summer.

City director Dave Boddy said: “He’s had a good start and, although results haven’t been brilliant recently, it’s important that the continuity is there and he’s allowed to go on and develop the team.

“It was a big rebuilding job taking over from Andy Preece and the summer saw the biggest turnaround of players that we have had in one close season.”

Dryden’s team, who are 11th in the table, host league leaders Chelmsford on Saturday.