West Ham United have agreed a new professional contract with young right-back Ashley Miller that will keep him at the club until summer 2009.
The 18-year-old defender, who can also play in the centre and on the left, has been with the club since he was eight and has showed good progress in the current campaign, with some notable outings for the reserves including 2-2 and 0-0 draws against Arsenal and Chelsea respectively. Academy director Tony Carr said: "His scholarship is finishing so we have decided to give him another year. It is good news all round, the young players are progressing and making an impact at youth and reserve-team level."