Dean Smith to learn budget plans for Saddlers

Dean Smith will hold talks with Walsall's top brass this week to thrash out next season's budget.

The boss delayed talks with his players by 24 hours with out-of-contract stars set to find out today if they have a Banks's Stadium future.

Once the free agents have been dealt with Smith will discuss cash with chairman Jeff Bonser and chief executive Stefan Gamble as he plots to improve on last season's 19th-placed finish in League One.

"We'll sit down this week. You have to work the budget as well as you can to your benefit and you prioritise what you need," said Smith.

"It's part of my job. It's not just putting a team out there, it's managing a budget and you have to do it to the best of your ability."

"I never over-spent last season and we were thankful for the help from Stoke and West Brom for the loan players (Florent Cuvelier and Sam Mantom). We got Emmy (Ledesma) in too and it worked really well."

Argentine striker Ledesma is out of contract, along with goalkeepers Jimmy Walker and David Grof and defender Manny Smith, among others.

Boss Smith, who dismissed links to out-of-contract Leicester winger Franck Moussa, will be ready to move once he knows his budget.

He said: "I'm hopeful we can go quickly and you target the players you want. Your one-to-five targets normally go pretty quickly and you end up with your other list. But we've certainly got players in positions we're looking for."

Smith is also eager to nail down more summer friendlies after arranging games against Albion, Wolves, Burton and Kidderminster.