ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced on Monday that former England international Joe Cole would return for his second season with the club in 2017. Martin Vingaard and Neill Collins also remained under under contract with the club. Per club policy, further contract details were not disclosed.

In the trio of Cole, Vingaard and Collins, the Rowdies bring back a core of experienced players and key contributors from the 2016 roster. Those three players combined for 63 appearances, despite Cole and Vingaard joining the team after the start of the season.

“We’re excited to continue on with these three players,” Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell said. “No one can deny the impact they made on our team last year with their ability, their grittiness and their leadership. Joe, Neill and Martin will serve as a good backbone for our team in the season ahead.”

With Cole and Georgi Hristov, who the club announced will be returning for 2017 last week, the Rowdies head into next season with the core of their exciting attack in place. The duo of Hristov (11) and Cole (9) alone accounted for 20 goals last season, half of Tampa Bay’s regular season total of 40.