Steve Jenkins seeks talks over future of Saddlers

Millionaire Walsall fan Steve Jenkins today called for a swift end to the Banks's Stadium saga and revealed he will seek talks with the council.

The music producer and lifelong Saddler insisted the local authority buying the ground represents the best option for them and the club – despite the council's reluctance.

Leader Mike Bird dismissed the proposal on Wednesday claiming they didn't have the cash and had to slice £70m off their budget.

Mr Jenkins wrote an open letter to the Express & Star on Monday revealing he fears for the club's future should the stadium, which has been on the market since March, end up with a private investor or company.

And the former MD of Jive Records, who worked with R Kelly and Britney Spears, insisted he wants a quick resolution if a deal is possible.

"I need some assistance but I'd like to move swiftly," said Mr Jenkins, who also revealed he wants to hold talks with Walsall chairman Jeff Bonser to discover more about the situation.

"Is there other interest? I suspect there would be. Are there offers? I suspect there might be. Under that kind of movement I think you need to be in position over the next two, three or four weeks where you're not concluding it but looking for a conclusion.

"I'm prepared to dedicate my time to speak to people and move it along. The land and the stadium will be sold and I think this summer is the time it will go. We need to act."

But Mr Jenkins believes the council haven't given enough thought to the idea and insisted they must look at it further.

"I'd welcome a meeting with the leader of the council," said Mr Jenkins, who goes to almost every Walsall game and was at Southampton on Saturday as the Saddlers beat the League One drop by a point.

"It's an important issue. I can't see how you can say 'we are not interested in the football club' a day or two after my letter.

"I know Mike Bird has responded by wishing the club good luck but saying they have no interest in buying the stadium. For me it was a personal response.

"My view is the stadium and the land is a far bigger issue than one councillor's view. With the utmost respect to Mike Bird, I accept what he's said and that it's one vote against. As we stand it's one against and 59 more (councillors) to go.

"The council have their own problems at the moment so I'm not trying to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

"There's some work I've got to do but I suppose I'm marking their card to say I'm coming. It's worth being on their agenda, so let's just talk."

Last week's local elections left a hung council with the parties holding talks about the future and a change could hold the key to Mr Jenkins' proposal.

And he insisted the whole town would benefit should the council, who have rejected the idea several times, by the ground.

"Let's say we're moving towards the top end cost of £6m to £7m (for the ground)," he said. "If you borrow that amount of money then you're repayments will be £225,000 to £250,000. We know the rental income from the site is £477,000 a year. So you would know the council would have £220,000 to £240,000 of income to spend for the town.

"They could spend the money in the leisure areas, libraries, gritting the roads at Christmas. I'm sure there's a long list. They do a deal and they'll have more money than they had the day before."