Hutchings expecting reduced budget

Walsall manager Chris Hutchings expects his budget to be slashed as the Saddlers boss prepares for cash talks with chairman Jeff Bonser.

The Banks's Stadium chief is due to sit down with Bonser and thrash out next season's playing budget within the next two weeks.

But Hutchings admits the harsh winter and recession has hit the Saddlers and believes his funds are likely to be cut.

He said: "I would expect so, all clubs will be smaller because of the present climate and the amount of people coming through the gate. We lost a lot of revenue at that time we weren't playing and it hit us big style.

"If you have an average of 10,000 and you get 8,000 it's still a lot of money, because it's 8,000 which keeps things ticking over but unfortunately for us with 3,000 or 4,000 it's very difficult.

"If you're a top 10 side in this division maybe one or two budgets have been set out, but I would imagine they will all be cut.

"I don't see them being more unless you get promotion, so everyone is in the same boat. It's going to come up soon, because projected budgets are very hard to predict at the moment.

"Stefan (Gamble, finance director) is getting on with that, so hopefully in the next couple of weeks we can sit down and find out where we are."

It means Hutchings' search for new players over the summer will be severely restricted, but the manager remains focused on Saturday's visit of Tranmere.

The Saddlers are all but safe from the drop, after four points against Stockport and Wycombe over Easter left them 13th in League One.

Hutchings has been boosted by Peter Till's and Matt Richards' return to training, while Clayton McDonald is available following his three-game ban but Troy Deeney is suspended.

The manager said: "Everyone was training this morning. Everyone has come through, there's only little niggles from yesterday's reserve game but Tilly and Matty Richards should be joining in, so that's good news.

"Clayton played yesterday so it's nice to have a clean bill of health, but let's get to Saturday first because we've said this before and then one or two get knocks on Friday."