Reading quartet clinch new deals

[Aussie Bee]

Reading's Ivar Ingimarsson, James Harper, Shane Long and Simon Cox have agreed new contracts with the club.

Defender Ingimarsson, 29, and midfielder Harper, 26, have extended their deals until 2010.

Long has signed until 2011, while fellow 20-year-old striker Simon Cox has signed a new one-year contract.

"One of our biggest jobs this summer is to secure the futures of our existing players," said director of football Nick Hammond.

"These deals are an important part of that process, which will continue in the coming weeks."

Reading will now be hoping to secure striker Leroy Lita and left-back Nicky Shorey on new deals as talks with the pair progress.

Winger Stephen Hunt is another player who has been courting interest from fellow Premiership clubs but the Royals want him to sign a new contract as well.