Dean Smith today insisted Walsall have issued a statement of intent after securing the future of their hottest stars.

The boss admitted the Saddlers must safeguard their assets or pay the price during a summer transfer scramble.

He is moving to change the club’s policy of offering contracts at the end of the season and rewarded Jamie Paterson with a two-and-a-half year deal last week.

It followed Will Grigg’s new 18-month contract and Smith, who is due to talk to young striker George Bowerman about his future this week, insisted early deals are vital.

“It’s certainly a statement of intent, we have to look after the younger players at the club and look after the players who are performing,” he said.

“It’s safeguarding the club’s future and players’ futures. I always say to everyone ‘sign as long as you can’ because they need to keep them (contracts) as long as they can.

“The way football is going, with TV money being cut, it’s more of a smash and grab come the end of the season.  I said during pre-season I wanted to get players tied up on longer term deals if they are producing.” Paterson, 19, and Grigg, 20, have emerged as key players for the Saddlers as they struggle in League One this term and Smith said they deserved their deals.

“If they are earning the right with their performances then you have to reward them with contracts,” he said. “They are the life and soul of the football club. The lads coming through now like Will Grigg and Jamie Paterson have done well and have been rewarded.”

And Smith didn’t rule out the possibility of securing more of his squad – with Alex Nicholls, Manny Smith and Oliver Lancashire all out of contract next June.  He said: “Possibly, I will look forward to Christmas now because the transfer window opens in January and you’ll be looking at options if other players aren’t doing it.

The ones who are doing it, you’ll look to tie up as well. It’s a no-brainer, certainly for the younger players at the football club, because they are from the youth system and we rely on that heavily. ”

Meanwhile, Mark Wilson has been recalled by Doncaster just days after the Saddlers extended his loan deal.  The midfielder, who made six Walsall appearances, has returned to Rovers because of Dean Saunders’ injury crisis.