Lionesses fully committed to the City project

MANCHESTER City have locked down two of their England stars until at least 2017 after Jill Scott and Karen Bardsley both signed extensions to their current deals.

The pair both played key roles in the Lionesses’ third- place finish at this summer’s World Cup.

And Scott, who has won 97 international caps, is not ruling out being part of City even beyond her playing days.

“I would love to see out my career here. I don’t feel like this club is just short term, I feel like it is long term,” said the 28-year-old.

“Eventually, when I stop playing, this is a club where I would like to help develop the young players as well.”

Bardsley, 30, has also bought into the project, opening the new City Football Academy last year with women’s and men’s sides catered for equally.

“They’re really changing perceptions of women’s football and raising the bar across the board, and this is the start- ing point,” said Bardsley.

“I’m honoured and it’s a privilege that they’ve decided they’d like to keep me on.

“We’re all learning so it’s never the end product. We’re just laying down the foundations for generations to come.”