Dean Smith: 'No budge on Walsall FC contract deadline'

Boss Dean Smith today insisted he will not hang around for players to decide if they want to stay at Walsall.

The Saddlers chief is not prepared to budge on the club's June 19 deadline for his out-of-contract stars to resolve their futures.

Adam Chambers has indicated to the club he will take up a year's option in his current deal while Mat Sadler, Manny Smith and David Grof are also considering offers.

But Smith is keen to step-up his summer planning and will not wait as he chases new players.

He said: "What I don't want to do is have a lot of money tied up until June 19. It's totally up to the players if I don't hear from them then we'll move on.

"I've offered contracts I feel the players are worth and it's up to them to accept the contracts or not. If they want to sign for the club on the contracts I feel they are worth then I'd be happy.

"I can't go into budgets but it's a tight budget as it was last year. I know for a fact clubs are in the same boat as us because the TV money was cut last year."

The Saddlers also offered Emmanuel Ledesma a two-year deal but the Argentinian forward is talking to Championship club Middlesbrough with his agent suggesting he will not return.

Darryl Westlake and Jake Jones have been offered contracts while Richard Taundry and Alex Nicholls are considering one-year verbal offers.

Smith axed Kevan Hurst, Oliver Lancashire and Jon Macken in his summer clear-out but insisted his decisions were not based on cash.

"I don't think about it, I was given the money and had to make some decisions. A few decisions were made before that anyway," said Smith, who is also on the hunt for a new assistant manager.

"With Kevan Hurst I knew I had Jamie Paterson who will play 30 games next season and he would have been ahead of Kevin. Although he did well he missed a number of games through injury.

"Olly was one of three centre-backs and he had a real battle for a place which was fantastic. Olly didn't play as many games as he would have liked."