Two-year deals on offer at Walsall

Walsall boss Chris Hutchings aims to slam shut the revolving door and end the club's instability by offering two-year deals to selected players.

Hutchings is primed for a meeting with his squad on Monday, after Saturday's final game with Milton Keynes Dons, where the out-of-contract stars will learn their fates.

The likes of captain Mark Hughes, Richard Taundry and Rene Gilmartin are all sweating on their futures - with only five players signed for next year - but the manager will work within his budget to offer extended deals.

He said: "We're trying to get players who we feel have potential on two-year contracts, so we've have a bit more stability at the end of the season.

"Instead of having 10 and 12 out of contract you might only have six. It's still a testing time when you have that, but it happens at all clubs.

"We've taken the club forward in trying to get players on two-year contracts - all those little things the public doesn't see.

"There will be some only offered one and I have to sit down with the chairman and decide whether they are worth two or one.

"No disrespect to the players, it's what we feel we need to offer them."

The players will be paid until the end of their deals in June and Hutchings revealed those offered contracts will have a deadline to respond to the new terms.

He said: "We're getting this game out of the way and then we'll sit down on Monday. We'll offer contracts to people who we want to stay and then they'll have four weeks to reply.

"I'll be in touch with their agents or themselves personally and we'll move forward from there."

The season's finale at home to the Dons may signal the end of the action, but the work continues behind the scenes and Hutchings has a plan for every eventuality.

He said: "We're trying to sort players' contracts out. Those who don't sign we can move on and go through the list to replace them.

"Whatever is thrown at us we have to deal with,we will do that the best way we can."