Ryan Gilligan has handed Stuart Gray an early summer boost by signing a new two-year contract with the club.

Gilligan's current deal is due to expire at the end of June but having accepted the terms offered to him by Gray he will now remain at Sixfields until at least 2010.

"I'm delighted that Ryan will be with us for at least another two years," said Gray.

"I've seen an improvement in Ryan over the season and hopefully he will be able to kick on from that again next season.

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"I've said before that he has needed to add goals to his all round game and having scored in two of our last three games this season hopefully he will now be able to build on that.

"He is a good young player who is still improving and I think there is still definitely a lot more to come from Ryan."