Andy Beattie has become the latest Bath player to commit his future to the club by signing a new contract.

The 30-year-old flanker has followed Butch James, Michael Claassens, Lee Mears, Michael Lipman, Justin Harrison, Peter Short and David Flatman in agreeing new terms at the Recreation Ground this season.

Beattie, who made his debut for Bath during the 2001-02 season and has since made 171 first-team appearances, has signed a deal which will keep him at the club until 2011.

He suffered a serious knee injury a year ago – but impressed everyone at Bath by returning to action just seven months later.

Head coach Steve Meehan said: "Andy got back to fitness a couple of months before anybody predicted – and you have to work hard and apply yourself to do that.

"It is tough to come back from any injury of more than a couple of months, so for him to work that hard for seven months showed great application.

"While the other players were having a summer break, he was still working very hard – and he is now reaping the rewards.

"His form since he came back has been very good, both in the Premiership and in Europe. So I am delighted he is back in good touch and has agreed to stay on at the club for another two years."

Beattie made his Bath debut against Leeds in September 2001 and has since become an established member of the squad, narrowly missing out on a full England call-up on several occasions.

And he said the decision to stay at Bath was one of the easiest he has had to make.

"When I knew Bath were keen to re-sign me I jumped at the chance," he said.

"It was one of the easiest decisions I have ever had to make in my life. In the last 20 years, Bath have won some good silverware and I believe we are heading back in that direction.

"We finished in the top four of the Guinness Premiership last year, we are back in the Heineken Cup and we are going to be pushing hard for some more silverware. Hopefully it will be this year."

Bath have requested a renewal of the short-term lease for the East Stand at the Rec.

Chief executive Bob Calleja said in a statement: "The club has made it repeatedly clear to the trustees of the Bath Recreation Ground Trust and to the council what it believes is needed in order to make a development of the Rec potentially viable.

"It is apparent that what the club believes is necessary is not currently available. It is also clearly impossible, in the present financial climate, to hold meaningful discussions with any potential funding partners about a development in order to determine the actual requirements for viability.

"Therefore the club has requested a renewal of the short term lease which enables the present East Stand to be available for supporters.

"This will allow the club to continue with the current ground configuration until the economic climate improves and funding of a development becomes possible again.

"Clearly, alternative options have to be considered in the event that the East Stand lease is not renewed."