Walsall's contract rebels set to leave

Walsall's contract rebels were today set to leave the club after they failed to commit to the Saddlers.

The deadline for Matt Richards, Julian Gray and Emmanuel Ledesma to accept new deals passed at the weekend and manager Dean Smith will now pursue other targets.

The trio were offered new terms at the end of last season but, after the deadline expired, Smith insisted he won't wait for them.

He said: "Their offers ran out over the weekend, so it left me knowing where I am in terms of the budget and I can start making moves on people now.

"I've had some dialogue with them but I want commitment to the football club and, if the commitment doesn't come forward, then I won't be hanging around.

"I've had nothing concrete from them, so they are of the understanding I won't hang around for them."

Gray was the Saddlers' 10-goal top scorer last season and had a trial in the United States with Major League Soccer outfit Seattle Sounders last month, while Richards finished third in the Player of the Season awards.

Young striker George Bowerman has agreed a six-month contract and is set to join the squad for the start of pre-season training next Thursday.

Goalkeeper David Bevan is out of contract, though, and has been given permission to find a new club.