Walsall FC boss closing in on targets

Walsall boss Dean Smith today insisted he is closing in on his transfer targets and his summer plans are on track.

The Banks's Stadium chief reassured fans he will beef up the squad with the season just three weeks away. The Saddlers open their pre-season campaign at Telford tonight with new-boys Ashley Hemmings and Dean Holden set for debuts.

Florent Cuvelier should feature after re-signing on loan from Stoke and Smith could hand game time to several trialists.

And the manager insisted he has never panicked over his transfer dealings.

"I've been really pleased with how it's gone but, bumping into people, they have been getting worried," said the boss, who has been watching ex-Birmingham midfielder Ashley Sammons and former Hull defender Joe Lamplough at Essington.

"When I'm dropping my daughter off at school, there's a couple of Walsall fans there and they've been worried but I said to them 'if the manager's not worried you don't need to be'.

"There's room in the budget for five or six and room in the squad.

"Five or six would take us to 22. We've been speaking to people and meeting people and things are coming together nicely."

Smith has registered an interest in ex-Leeds defender Ben Parker as he hunts a new left-back.

But he expects his new players to make an instant impact ahead of Brentford's Capital One Cup visit on August 11 and the opening League One game with Doncaster a week later.

Hemmings signed after being released by Wolves and Smith hopes he can fulfill his potential after a frustrating time at Molineux.

"I don't see that he's got anything to prove. He's had a career pathway and it's not quite happened at Wolves but it's not to say it won't happen here," he said.

"He's a young prospect and one I was keen to work with. He's got a bright future and hopefully he can produce the type of form we have seen from him in training and in games.

"He can play off the frontman, left and right and he's been so bright in training, he's been really pleasing."