Wolves: Richard Stearman signs new two-year contract at Molineux

Stearman said there "was never any doubt from me about wanting to stay" at Molineux

Wolves centre-half Richard Stearman has signed a new two-year deal, keeping him at the Championship club until 2016.

The 26-year-old Wolverhampton-born ex-Leicester City defender's future at Molineux has been the subject of speculation since promotion back to the Championship was confirmed in May.

But Stearman insists: "Obviously I was coming to the end of my contract so I was able to speak to other parties.

"But there was never any doubt from me about wanting to stay."

Stearman is Wolves' third longest-serving outfield player, after Kevin Foley and midfielder Dave Edwards, who signed a similar two-year deal last week.

Originally signed for Wolves by Mick McCarthy in June 2008, Stearman fell out of favour during Wolves' second successive relegation season in 2012-13, spending the final four months of the campaign out on loan with his old boss at Ipswich Town.

McCarthy would like to have turned the signing into a permanent deal but, following the end-of-season departure of Dean Saunders, Stearman was brought back into the fold at Molineux by new boss Kenny Jackett.

And he played an integral role at the back alongside Danny Batth and Sam Ricketts in helping Jackett's side return to English football's second tier.

On top of giving new deals to Stearman, Edwards and young striker Liam McAlinden, Jackett has so far made two signings.

He has brought in left-sided utility man Tommy Rowe from Peterbrough and former Netherlands Under-21 winger Rajiv van La Parra from Dutch side Heerenveen.

The Wolves head coach is also reported to have now made a third bid for 21-year-old Sheffield United centre-half Harry Maguire.