I don't suppose any of us knows for certain, but I had always imagined that contract extension discussions would have taken place between the CEO and the coach. Actual monies that could be offered would mainly come from the CEO / accountant ( with his salary cap spreadsheet), together with implications for the rest of the squad ( "sorry, but that would mean you have used up the salary cap if you give him £xx"). However, contract length would mainly be a decision of the coach ?
So I don't think you can say our club has a policy towards short/long contracts. A three year contract is probably Price saying this guy is an important member of the team and I want to tie him down for the foreseeable future. I suppose it could also mean that they have had to offer him three years or they would have lost him to a competitor, but it probably arrives at the same conclusion anyway - that Price wants him.
If you don't like the contract duration you can either blame the current market - where there is a severe shortage of quality SL players, or Steve Price's judgement. Just as TS was rightly held to account for handing out a long contract to Russell. Why he even gave Russell a new contract, let alone a lengthy one, is probably one of the greatest mysteries of the modern game.