Don backs Saddlers to come good

Don Goodman believes Walsall are close to becoming promotion contenders – if they can capture the right players.

The former Saddlers striker knows the club are working with a tight budget and face a difficult task to compete.

But, with boss Chris Hutchings scouring the land for new recruits, Goodman says they are only a few players from challenging at the top of League One.

"The management have done a good job and they are two or three good players away from having a good push next season," he said.

"The biggest problem Walsall face is that they are working with a lot less resources than certainly a lot of clubs in that division and that means it's always harder to compete on an even keel.

"They went through different phases last season and it has happened for a few years now. They get off to a good start, have a little wobble in the middle and then come back fairly strong.

"Since Chris Hutchings and Martin O'Connor came in I think they have done a really good job."

Goodman scored four times in 29 appearances during his 18-month spell with the Saddlers, including in their 3-2 play-off final win over Reading in 2001 in the old Division Two, and he also hailed the appointment of Hutchings.