Saddlers boss has open mind on captaincy

Chris Hutchings is set to hold open auditions to choose Walsall's new captain.

The Saddlers boss today revealed he is yet to pick the club's new skipper and will give his players the chance to win the armband.

Walsall go to Barnsley for a behind-closed-doors friendly tomorrow before the visit of Wolves on Tuesday and Hutchings says the chase is on for the captaincy.

He said: "I haven't decided yet but I will pick different guys for the games ahead to see how they cope and what they can give to the team. It's about how they are on the training ground and off the pitch.

"I wouldn't rule anyone out but you want 11 talkers out there, right through to the keeper. They've got to bark orders and give information out."

Last season's skippers Mark Hughes, Dwayne Mattis, Jamie Vincent and Rhys Weston have all left the club leaving the Saddlers searching for a new leader.

Hutchings was not afraid to hand Hughes the captaincy when the 23-year-old arrived from Northampton last summer so the new boys, including former Bristol Rovers defender Aaron Lescott, are in the running.

The boss said the same last year but Hughes skippered the side through pre-season before being handed the armband on a permanent basis so whoever captains the side on Tuesday could be the boss' preferred choice.

Clayton McDonald captained the reserves last season while Hutchings will look at the experience of Steve Jones, Darren Byfield and Julian Gray in his search.

The Saddlers go to Barnsley tomorrow to start their pre-season fixtures with Gray unlikely to feature due to his lack of match fitness.

But the winger could face Wolves on Tuesday and with the rest of the squad set to face the Tykes Hutchings expects his players to give everything.

"I'm looking for them all to push, not only the young lads but also the older lads. I can only start 11 and it will be up to them to show what they can do," he said.