Peterborough United have completed the signings of Paul Coutts on a three-year contract subject to international clearance (which can take up to seven days) while Shaun Batt has agreed a deal to keep him at London Road until the end of April 2009.

Both players have impressed whilst on trial at the club and manager Darren Ferguson was keen to secure the young players on longer-term deals. Coutts is a player that Ferguson has admired for some time while Batt offers 'something different'.

'Paul has done very well for us whilst he has been at the club and is a player I have tried to get for a while. He is a good footballer, has a good passing range and will give us more options in central midfield. I am pleased he has committed himself for three years.

'Shaun offers us something different and we have offered him a deal until April. He is still very young and is raw, but there is plenty to work with. He will provide competition on the right hand side of midfield where we already have Sergio and Chris Whelpdale,' Ferguson said.

Batt was naturally delighted to be given a deal and it will see him link up once again with Charlie Lee who he has known since school. 'I have pretty much grown up with Charlie and there are plenty of tales I can tell about him, but he is an excellent player with a very promising future.

'I feel I have done enough to win a short-term deal and I hope I can play a part this year and win a longer deal. I have been playing at Fisher and prior to that I was at Dagenham and Redbridge. I like to attack the full-back, I feel I have got good pace and can offer something different.'

Coutts has penned a three-year contract but won't be able to play until the friendly with Manchester United as international clearance has still to be obtained. 'The manager has said I have done enough to win a deal and that is great because the manager was a great player and is still class in training.

'I know I have a lot to do to force my way into the team because we have some very talented midfielders, but if I get my chance I will take it. I like to get on the ball and I have learned my footballing education in the non-league in Scotland and that has helped me bulk up physically.'