Walsall chief executive Roy Whalley admits the club had to sell defender Anthony Gerrard this summer – or risk losing him on the cheap next year.

The defender has signed for Championship outfit Cardiff in a deal reported to be around £200,000, though the Saddlers have secured a sell-on clause.

Gerrard was transfer listed and had a year left to run on his current contract – meaning any future fee would have been decided by a tribunal if the 22-year-old had let his deal expire.

Whalley was keen to avoid the danger of losing him for next to nothing.

He said: “In football one has to look ahead and Anthony had one year left on his contract still to run.

“At the end of it he would still be under 24, so it would go to a tribunal which is very much like a lottery.

“The player was on the transfer list and did want to leave, so you have to put all those factors together.

“On balance it was a fair decision, you also want players who want to play for the club.”

Gerrard signed a three-year contract to link up with former Wolves boss Dave Jones, with the Cardiff chief having watched him last season.

The move ends a year of uncertainty for the player, after the Saddlers rejected a bid from Southampton for the transfer-listed star last August.

Losing his man means Walsall chief Chris Hutchings is down to just 18 professionals and has yet to make any new signings.

He released Michael Ricketts, Stephen Hughes and Paul Boertien, while Jabo Ibehre left for Milton Keynes Dons on a free transfer.

But Whalley has moved to allay fans’ fears about the threadbare squad, insisting players will arrive soon.

He said: “I can understand they’re concerned but they shouldn’t be. Chris and Martin are working very hard and are talking to players.

“I’m very confident of a good season. Chris is an experienced campaigner and was working very hard last season, attending matches and watching players.

“I would be very surprised if we didn’t see some developments within a reasonably short time.”