Andy Butler: Walsall FC must 'move on'

Skipper Andy Butler today insisted Walsall must 'move on' from their summer exodus and the new squad will gel quickly.

The Saddlers returned for pre-season training today after several team-mates quit the club.

Emmanuel Ledesma, Mat Sadler and Lee Beevers have all left after they turning down fresh contracts.

Boss Dean Smith has left the door open for Richard Taundry and Manny Smith to return after they initially rejected new deals but Butler said the current squad will cope.

He said: "It's a cruel world, football, but you have to move on. This may be a new team and a new start. These are all the gaffer's players now and he knows what he wants to do with the squad and where he wants to take us. In Dean we trust.

"There's only myself, Will Grigg and David Grof left from the same changing room – we have two changing rooms at the training ground - so it will be interesting to see who comes in. But with whatever club I've been at, whatever lads come in, they are always chirpy – there's not a quiet footballer out there I don't think.

"I am intrigued to see who comes in. I'm sure whoever he brings in will be good. The gaffer is not just going to go out there and get any player because we are short of numbers. There's no need to panic."

And Butler is keen to return to Essington and start pre-season after two months off.

"I can't wait, it's been a long summer but Jon Whitney (physio) gave us a fitness plan so it's kept us ticking over. Now we'll get a bit of ballwork done and some horrible running.

"We get the ball down quite early with the gaffer and I'm sure we'll do a lot of work on keeping the ball and working hard with and without the ball."