Walsall FC boss Dean Smith to get January transfer cash

Boss Dean Smith will be handed cash to strengthen flagging Walsall, chief executive Stefan Gamble confirmed today.

The manager has funds left for the January transfer window as he looks to guide the Saddlers away from the League One drop zone.

They go to Coventry on Saturday three points above the bottom four after a 12-match winless run in the league.

And Gamble said Smith can add to the squad in the New Year – but insisted he will not waste the money.

He said: "There's funds left in his budget, not a massive amount but he has got funds to strengthen in January. But there's no point in bringing someone in who Dean feels isn't going to improve the team.

"He's spent pretty wisely with what he's had and he will continue to do that. He's very mindful he doesn't want to sign someone for the sake of it."

Aaron McCarey's loan from Wolves expires in two weeks while Sam Mantom and Florent Cuvelier are due to return to Albion and Stoke respectively in January.

The Saddlers must decide if they want to keep the trio and it is likely that will come out of Smith's future cash.

The club's budget – along with the rest of the Football League – was hit with a reduction in television money this season.

Walsall have slipped to 19th after failing to win since September – when Smith was nominated for the manager of the month after four wins in six games.

But Gamble insisted, despite a lack of resources, the Saddlers can compete with the division's big boys.

He said: "If money was no object the world would be a different place. My job would be a hell of a lot easier – and so would the manager's.

"It doesn't mean you're going to be any better on the pitch but if we had double the budget it would certainly help. We are where we are, though.

"We're working with a smaller squad but looking at getting better quality players in and developing the youth system."