Bookies write off Walsall boss' aims

Walsall step up their plans for the approaching League One campaignw ith the bookies dismissing manager Dean Smith's promotion-winning ambitions.

The new-look Saddlers are at Cheltenham tonight for their penultimate pre-season friendlym during which Smith hopes to continue gelling a team from a squad containing eight new signings.

As many as two more could yet be added if the Walsall boss gets his way as he bids to transform last season's relegation-fighters into a team capable of challenging for a rare place in the Championship.

But the nation's bookmakers remain unimpressed by Smith's dramatic survival-securing impact last season and the summer changes.

Instead they think Walsall will be down among 'dead men' including Tranmere, Hartlepool, Stevenage and Wycombe and second favourites for the drop behind Yeovil – with the popular Smith even rated fourth favourite to lose his job first in League One.

But one of the summer recruits, Lee Beevers, believes the re-shaped squad is already bonding to good effect.

Beevers said:"In training we've been getting the ball down well, playing and passing really well. We need to take those positives into our next couple of games.

"The lads can be happy with their performance."