Chris Hutchings' warning for targets

Walsall manager Chris Hutchings has warned his transfer targets the club won't be held to ransom when it comes to their wage demands.

The Saddlers boss is primed to start his recruitment drive, after seeing 10 players leave since the end of the season.

Hutchings is likely to wait to see which of his current crop commits their future to the club, but has to work within tight financial restrictions after his budget was cut.

And the manager, who is waiting on eight players to agree new contracts, won't bow to excessive demands.

He said: "Players have to be realistic. They can't think 'well I was on this, I'll get this', it's not happening. You have to say, 'that's what it is, you can take it or leave it.'

"We're not a big club where you can get big wages. You're not going to get that here. But we're not the only club.

"There's always going to be players available and with the recession there's going to be a bundle."

But Hutchings is active in the search for new faces.

He said: "Last close season I worked closely with our chief scout David Hamilton and we would go up to the PFA offices to look at all the players available.

"That's what you have to do."