Express & Star

Joe Edwards targeting Walsall promotion

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Joe Edwards is aiming for promotion from League One with Walsall this term.

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The 25-year-old, who will officially join the Saddlers upon the expiration of his contract at Colchester on Friday, made it out of the division with Yeovil in 2013.

When asked what made him want to join, Edwards said: "It's such a nice, friendly club every time you come here and the success they had last year.

"Unfortunately they didn't quite make it at the last hurdle but the whole season they were brilliant and they play lovely football.

"They've got a real good team spirit about them, which attracted me to this club and it's something I would like to be a part of."

The versatile former Villa trainee, who is comfortable in central midfield or at full-back, played in the Glovers' 2013 League One play-off final victory over Brentford at Wembley.

He featured more than 50 times for them in the subsequent Championship season.

He was then made club captain upon their return to the third tier, left after their relegation to League Two and was Colchester's Players' Player of the Year last season.

Edwards is desperate for another promotion to the second tier, and believes the togetherness of the Walsall squad will stand them in good stead.

"When you get those promotions in your career, you want to keep doing it again and again," he added. "That's the feel I got here, a real nice club where everyone is in it together and there's a real good team spirit. That's what we had at Yeovil, and that's why we were so successful.

"We weren't the biggest club with the biggest budget, but we had a very good manager and a very good bunch of players who stuck together and fought for the shirt.

"We would like to build on what they did last year.

"If we can get to that level again, and go one step better then even better.

"I just can't wait to get started and get back to playing football."