Walsall have started their rebuilding by signing Doncaster Rovers defender Steve Roberts.
Now manager Jimmy Mullen hopes to pull off another swoop before the end of the day with the addition of a striker.
Mullen, speaking at the launch of the club’s new training complex in Essington today, confirmed neither deal involves a fee.
He is delighted that the hours of work spent setting up deals is finally paying off – with the prospect of further new arrivals to come.
He said: “Steve’s signed on the dotted line and we’ve got one coming in this afternoon to have a medical and that will all be tied up by tea-time.
“The rewards of the hard work will start to show now because we are working on other deals and speaking to players at this moment in time.
“We’re closing in and hopefully in the next couple of weeks we’ll have another three or four.
“Steve’s been there and done it. He’s had promotions with Wrexham and Doncaster so he knows what it’s like to be in a successful camp.
“That sort of experience you can’t buy. Steve is a proven, quality player at League One level. He played a major role in Doncaster’s success last term and we are delighted to have him on board.
“He is beginning to earn international recognition and I believe he can play a major role in what we are trying to achieve here.
“He’s going to come in here and hopefully give us that experience and show us what he’s learned over the years.
“I am sure he will be a great acquisition for us.”
Roberts, 28, a 6ft 2in centre half, has signed a two-year contract at the Banks’s Stadium.
He started his career at Wrexham and spent more than six years in Wales before moving to Rovers in 2005.
His form last season led to a Wales call-up from John Toshack and the defender was an unused substitute in their friendly against Luxembourg.
He suffered a knee injury towards the end of last season which kept him out of Rovers’ play-off campaign
16 Comments
Looks like an older Neil Emblem lets just hope he’s a better player but i doubt it, why would Donny let him go if he was any good?
Because they’ve just been promoted, of course. His problem is not whether he’s any good, but whether he’ll be fit enough. He averages just over 20 games a season over his career.
AJ why does anyone let anyone go? Why did Walsall release Hawley, Bishop etc. A player who isn’t good enough for one club may be a star of another club, give the guy a chance.
By the he wasn’t actually released by Doncaster Rovers, he rejecte4d a one year deal at the Keepmoat in favour of a longer deal here at Walsall, a bit like a certain Dean Keates and Chris Westwood did when we were promoted.
Seems like a decent signing - if he’s been called up by Wales recently then that augurs well. At last a piece of good news…and the training facilities look good too. Now let’s have another 4 or 5 decent signings and then we can all feel more optimistic. Good luck to Jimmy and the lads.
3. DIDDYP - you sound like a Jeff Bonser fan, people like you would be happy to see us in the conference, ive said before genuine fans like me shouldnt go to any more games until bonser and cronies have gone as the only way for us is down- we either boycott games and call his bluff or like you just sit back and watch us become non league in 2 years time
You should view Robbo as a good signing. Rovers offered him a one year deal and I guess he didn’t fancy it (more money, longer term - who knows). Maybe he felt he was too far down the pecking order at Rovers for regular football. He’d do a job in the Championship so is certainly good enough for League One.
Only caveat would be his fitness but the Keepmoat pitch is notoriously hard on players (see the number of players we’ve had take hernia ops) and he does mix it with the forwards.
All round good guy and a good artist, too.
These are the type of players we will be buying, bosmans. I agree that we should give him a chance, we need experience at centre half. Cannot wait to see who the striker is? rod mcdonald!!!!!
The masters team is looking better !!!
Welcome to Walsall Steve
I for one welcome the start of our team building
Some people on here and other web pages are never happy
Moaning about lack of signings then moaning about who we have signed
Of course it matters that he is good
and why should we spend a lot of time chasing him if he isnt
He will be fit before the start of the season
We have a new training ground which I am sure will help!
Come on lads stop moaning and be positive for christs sake
Grow up AJ - real fans support their clubs no matter what. I think some people need a reality check and realise we’re a relatively small club operating on a tight budget (yes, probably too tight) but who else are we going to sign other than other lower league players. I’m sick of sitting next to moaners like you - I expect you were one of the lot having a go when we were still in the play off places. Muppet.
AJ - At which point does he say anything about being a bonser fan?! he merely answered your question/statement about if Roberts is any good why are Donny letting him go.
I think this seems like a decent signing but like its been said above, we need another 5 or 6 to follow before it means anything.
I’ll wait to see him in action before I pass comment. It’s just a relief to sign someone at last. Would love to see Mattis and Reid from Barnsley signed up next.
According to the Donny supporters , this bloke is a descent player, lets give him a chance.
I am a bit more concerned about this new Center Forward from Leyton Orient. He only scored six goals last year and JM appears to think that scoring only six is good for a striker.
(9 Yorkshire Saddlers and 10 Paul P) I didnt see you in the directors box next to Jeff last season did I? , your points just about sum up how frustrating it is for the majority of genuine fans like me when people like you would be just as happy to see us in the conference
AJ - why would I want to see us in the Conference? What is a genuine fan?
14 Yorkshire Saddler- point im trying to make is we are at a crucial stage in our history we either sit back and die or fight bonsor as one, there is nothing in between
And who is going to replace him?