Hutchings reveals goalkeeper snub

Walsall manager Chris Hutchings has revealed he has already been snubbed in his bid to sign a goalkeeper and admitted the hunt for players will go to the wire.

The Saddlers boss is chasing a new shot-stopper after Clayton Ince retired at the end of last season and is waiting on Rene Gilmartin to commit his future to the club.

With a goalkeeper top of his shopping list, Hutchings made his move to snare one early but has been rebuffed.

He said: "People say 'thanks for your interest, but I'm not in any rush at this moment in time and I want to leave my options open'. You have to respect that and deal with it.

"We only have one goalkeeper, we are working on that and we'll have to wait and see. We don't particularly want a younger one, unless he was an exceptional one but there aren't too many of them about.

"You have to look for someone with a little bit more experience than Rene has got, in terms of years behind him, and let them fight it out."

Hutchings is also expecting a long summer pursuit of the men he wants to bolster his squad.

He said: "There are a lot of players out there this year and I'm sure it will go to the last minute and even into pre-season, where they'll be the odd signing here and there.

"Not only at this club but at many, many clubs."

But the manager is keeping his power dry until he knows which outfield players will stay at the Banks's Stadium.

Those who have been offered deals, including captain Mark Hughes, Richard Taundry and Julian Gray, have 11 days to commit to the club.

Hutchings said: "It's just jogging along nicely, they still have about 11 days before they have to let us know directly whether they will be prepared to stay or not.

"We've got a list of players in all positions we are interested in, but we want to get our boys signed up first and foremost. Then they are in black and white and we can work around that.

"In another couple of weeks we'll definitely know what we need to go for."