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Walsall playing budget is 'bigger than ever' say club bosses

Walsall have issued a statement in response to supporter concerns regarding the club’s transfer policy.

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In an announcement made on the club’s website, Saddlers officials confirmed the playing budget has been increased from last season.

It was also revealed boss Jon Whitney still has funds available should he choose to further strengthen his squad in the current transfer window.

The Saddlers hierarchy choose to speak out in response to questions posed this morning by the Walsall Football Supporters Trust.

The organisation asked for clarity amid fears Whitney does not have the money required to sign a new striker this summer.

Walsall’s accepted policy over the past few years has been to reinvest 50 per cent of any transfer fee received into the team.

The other 50 per cent has been spent on improving the club’s infrastructure.

But speculation Whitney was not able to afford a new striker sparked a backlash from fans who have seen Tom Bradshaw, Rico Henry and Andreas Makris all depart the club for significant sums in the past 12 months.

But today Walsall insisted that nothing has changed in how money is reinvested into the team. They also confirmed Whitney still has money to spend.

The statement read:

"In response to recent press articles, Walsall Football Club wishes to address a number of supporter queries and concerns ahead of the new 2017/18 campaign.

The club can confirm that this season’s ‘Playing Budget’ has been increased compared to last season. While exact figures are commercially sensitive and will not be disclosed, we can confirm it is the biggest playing budget we have ever had in this division.

We can further confirm that funds remain available to the manager for further recruitment.

The club’s policy to reinvest ‘Football Fortune’ (i.e. monies received in respect of player transfers and cup prize money) has not altered.

50% of funds are reinvested directly into the manager’s playing budget as they are received and 50% is spent on the infrastructure of the club.

At the core of the club’s philosophy is the development of our own players from the Academy through to the first team. The club have invested a significant amount of money in our infrastructure in order to further enhance facilities, equipment and staffing levels within the Academy and first team.

A new FIFA Quality Pro 4G pitch has been installed at the Banks’s Stadium for the Academy players to hone their skills, two fully-equipped gymnasiums are in operation at the stadium and improvements to the training facilities at our Essington training base have been undertaken. This is vital to the ongoing development and sustainability of our philosophy.

We are all committed - directors, management, staff and players - to a long-term and sustainable philosophy which centres around a programme and set of values throughout the club from our under-9’s to the first-team.

The club also uses this money to reinvest in commercial ventures, which in turn generate additional long-term profits to be re-invested into the playing side of the club year-on-year.

A full set of Audited Accounts are produced each and every year, detailing the club’s finances including this investment. The Audited Accounts are a publicly available document and can be downloaded from the Companies House website. The club also issue Accounts to shareholders and invite questions concerning the figures each year at the AGM.

We are looking forward to the new season and felt it was important to clarify our position on a number of fronts.

We would like to thank fans for their continued support as we look ahead to the new campaign. A Fans Focus meeting has been arranged for this coming Monday, July 31st, where club officials will be on hand to further elaborate on these positions."