Weston keen to be new skipper

Walsall defender Rhys Weston has revealed he would ‘be very honoured’ to takeover the captaincy next season, but has admitted he was bitterly disappointed at Richard Money’s departure.

The former Arsenal and Cardiff fullback finished second to Anthony Gerrard in the Player of the Season awards after a fine first year and is a leading candidate to take over the armband from departed skipper Tommy Mooney.

And it is a job that Weston would be more than happy to take on.

“The captaincy was shared between Tommy and Darren Wrack last season and obviously they’ve both gone now,” Weston said.

“Anthony Gerrard took it over in the away game at Swansea and obviously he is going to be here next season. He’s a young man who is looking to make a big name for himself and rightly so.

“Whoever gets the armband next season will have earned it and they’ll look after the responsibility with pride.

“If I get the call I’ll be very honoured and very proud to do so. At the end of the day, you need more than one leader on the pitch, so whether I’m captain or not I’ll be doing the same good job throughout next season as I think I did this season.”

The Welsh international also admitted his disappointment at former boss Money’s resignation. He said the chance to work with him for the remainder of his contract, which runs until 2010, was the key factor in him agreeing to stay.

“I was bitterly disappointed when Richard left and I said to him openly that I hadn’t felt that much respect for a manager since I left Arsenal,” Weston said.

“He’s a great manager to work for and he was the main reason why I extended my stay here in March.”