Walsall dismiss sale speculation

Rumours over the weekend suggested a bid for the Saddlers was imminent, with travel company Arriva heavily linked to a buy-out.

But the club have moved to quash any speculation with chief executive Roy Whalley dismissing the gossip.

He said: "It's wild speculation. The rumours are just rumours and I've no idea where they derived from. It is April Fools Day this week after all.

"If there was some substance in them and things were moving along at pace then I am sure we would say so but they carry no substance.

"I would be the most surprised if they were true."

But Whalley reiterated the Saddlers, who drew 1-1 with Cheltenham in League One on Saturday, would entertain offers.

Chairman Jeff Bonser replaced Barrie Blower as chairman in 1992 and has sometimes had a difficult relationship with the Saddlers' fans.

Whalley added the chairman would welcome interest, after over two decades on the Saddlers' board.

He said: "The chairman would be prepared to talk to interested parties.

"He has made that clear over a number of years that, if there was someone out there or a group of people who wanted to purchase the club for the right reasons, he would be happy to sit down and listen to them.

"He has had a stint on the board for nearly 21 years and would be happy, providing it was for the right reasons, to stand down."

Whalley refused to confirm whether the £6 million figure is something which would interest the board if a bid materialised.

Rumours went into overdrive over the weekend and could spark a late rush for the Saddlers' Early Bird season ticket offer, which runs out tomorrow.

Whalley added: "We've been very pleased, in difficult financial circumstances, with the response we've had.

"They are very comparable to previous years."