Hutchings reveals transfer plans

Walsall manager Chris Hutchings has revealed his summer transfer plans in his bid to turn the club into League One challengers.

The Saddlers boss wants to add quality to the squad after his first full season in charge, which looks set to end in mid-table.

Hutchings already expects next year's budget to be reduced and accepts some of his current squad may have to be reduced to boost the standard.

He said: "It's quality that we are after. I am reasonably happy with the size of the squad but, as a manager, you are always looking to improve the quality. It's that extra quality that makes the difference.

"We might lose one or two players at the end of the season who decide they would be better off elsewhere. Similarly we will pick up one or two.

"There will be hundreds of players looking for clubs in the summer and I will be delighted if we can sign some of the quality that we brought in last summer."

Hutchings is still in contract talks with Manny Smith but must also decide on the futures of the likes of Alex Nicholls, Richard Taundry and goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin.

That will come at the end of the season but Hutchings insists it won't necessarily mean futures will be settled immediately.

He said: "We have decisions to make regarding players here at the moment and I will sit down with them on the Monday after the last game of the season.

"Then I will tell them what I think, they will let me know their intentions and we will take it from there. These things can take time to clear up for a number of reasons.

"Sometimes you make a player an offer but he won't give you an answer for six weeks, so while you want to get as many things tied up a quickly as possible it's not always easy."