Contract talks on hold at Walsall

Walsall have put all contract talks on hold after their cash flow problems but manager Chris Hutchings has reassured fans he will do everything to keep his stars.

The boss is eager to tie down his out-of-contract men, including Manny Smith and Alex Nicholls, but after the club lost £100,000 following the big freeze next season's budget is yet to be confirmed.

It would usually be settled by now, but Hutchings insists once he gets the green light he will aim to secure his players' futures.

The manager said: "We don't know what's happening, because the finances aren't coming in so it's been put back for a couple of months. The players have to be realistic, if we can do it we will. We have to get on and deal with it and, as much as I'd like to do it now, if I can't do it I can't.

"The scenarios are we can't do it at this moment, but I'm sure when I have a meeting with our finance director Stef Gamble and the chairman Jeff Bonser to see if we can start sorting one or two out we'll go down that line."

Hutchings cannot put a timescale on when talks will begin but is philosophical about the delay and insists no one is panicking.

He said: "How long is a piece of string? If we have another three games called off it'll be put off again, that's where we're at. It's not ideal but that's the way of the world.

"At this moment we can't project the budget, because we've had a month off with no revenue. It's always a bit of guesswork and that can go up or down."

But the Saddlers boss will prioritise his players when the time comes to talk.

He said: "We might want to sort someone out and another might not be such a priority, that's not disrespectful to the player but it might be I can't really see him signing. I'd then give it another couple of months to see what's what.

"Finances dictate on whether I can gamble and keep him or gamble and see what else is out there. You'll have your priorities of who you want to sign and get sorted."