City have protected the spine of their team by tying down two central characters.

Midfield lynchpin Lee Bullock and centre half Steve Williams both agreed extended deals yesterday as Peter Taylor’s squad continues to take shape.

Williams was already on board for next season after the club exercised the option for an extra year in his original contract, signed on his arrival from non-league Bamber Bridge last summer.

But the 23-year-old has been rewarded for promising signs in his first year as a professional by being handed an improved contract that runs until 2013. Bullock’s new two-year deal was one of the worst kept secrets at Valley Parade.

The former announced his intention to stay in the T&A last month but was relieved to make the news official.

He said: “I’m pleased to finally get it all done and dusted. The only reason there was a delay was because I was away on holiday.

“I’ve still got a lot to achieve here and we’re really positive about our chances.

“The support we got at the end of last season, even when we had nothing left to play for, was a big incentive. The lads were all saying ‘imagine what it would be like if we were to do well next year’.”

The retentions come just a week after Jon McLaughlin and Leon Osborne committed their long-term futures to the club.

Simon Ramsden and Michael Flynn are expected to soon follow suit and Bullock is excited by the way Peter Taylor’s squad is taking shape.

“The squad is looking strong and we have plenty of competition for places, particularly in midfield,” said the 29-year-old former Hartlepool star.

“We’ve got three older heads in myself, Tommy Doherty and hopefully Flynny and then we’ve got some decent young lads coming through.

“We’re waiting to see if the gaffer can get that front man too who’ll score plenty of goals.”