Players' future set for Monday decision
Walsall manager Chris Hutchings will begin to resolve his players' future on Monday as he prepares to mould his squad.
The Saddlers boss will sit down with his 13 out-of-contract stars after the League One finale at home to Oldham Athletic.
Skipper Stephen Hughes, striker Jabo Ibehre and goalkeeper Clayton Ince are among the players whose deals expire in the summer.
Hutchings is keen to finalise his plans but admits their future is unlikely to be settled immediately.
He said: "We've got the last game on Saturday, the Player of the Year do on Sunday and we'll be having a meeting on Monday morning and I'll be seeing the players then.
"We'll offer new contracts but I don't expect them to accept straight away. They'll go away and if they've got agents they'll speak to them, they'll have other irons in the fire and want to talk to other clubs.
"You do get the odd one or two who want to get it done and dusted and think 'I know where I am and I'm settled' but we'll have to wait and see."
The former Wigan boss believes clubs across the Football League will have smaller budgets because of the recession and believes the players will think hard about their future.
He said: "With the recession that's gone on there isn't the money about, especially at this lower end."
