FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | FACEBOOK
Hibs midfielder Marvin Bartley insists he is desperate to get his hands on more silverware after signing a new two-year contract at Easter Road.
The Englishman, David Gray, Darren McGregor, Lewis Stevenson and Ross Laidlaw all put pen to paper on deals that run until summer 2019 at the start of the week.
Bartley lifted the Scottish Cup last May at the end of his first season in Leith before helping Neil Lennon’s side clinch the Championship title this term.
He said: “It’s been brilliant. The Scottish Cup, winning that was unbelievable and on the parade after, the pictures talk for themselves really.
“To win the Championship the following season and to go to the Premiership and play against some of the biggest teams in the country, it doesn’t get much better – it can’t get better.
“To win more medals, that’s what I’m in football for.
“It’s been a long time coming, to come somewhere and be successful – so I’m absolutely delighted to get Scottish Cup and Championship winner’s medals.
“Be ambitious as you possibility can and hope to get more medals over the next two years.
“It’s been two exciting years previous to this and hopefully we can continue it, we can be challenging in the Premiership.
“Hopefully we can finish as high as we can but the club does feel that it’s on the up and it’s felt like that since I’ve come here.
“I’ve been very lucky with the success we’ve had in the time I’ve been here so it does feel like it’s going the right way and that was a major part in me staying here and not going home.”
Bartley made 33 domestic appearances last season in a Hibs side that saw their bid to defend the Scottish Cup end at the semi-final stage following an agonising defeat to Aberdeen.
The 30-year-old insists knowing former Celtic manager Lennon rates him was also a factor in re-signing.
He added: “It’s great that the manager has faith in you, especially when it’s a man who has been so successful. If he sees something in you, that makes you want to stay and be a part of it. It’s a great feeling.
“I’m delighted, it is something we had been sorting out for a while.
“For me, it’s more of a personal thing. I discussed it with my missus, who is based down in England at the moment and she is going to move up to Scotland, which allowed me to be able to commit to the club for a further two years.”
Bartley, meanwhile, insists the supporters will have a massive role to play on their return to the top-flight following a tortuous three-year absence.
Speaking to Hibs TV, he added: “The fans are massive, I don’t think they know how much of a help they are when they cheer you on when you’re in the tough games.
“As a team we can’t thank them enough because they have pulled us through at times.
“Even when we lost to Aberdeen they were all off their seats and all clapping us and that was a special moment for us because not often after a defeat do you see fans backing a team like they backed us.”