Walsall reject Swindon bid for Tom Bradshaw

The Saddlers boss reiterated the 23-year-old hitman, who signed a new two-year contract in the summer, is not for sale.

Swindon's bid is understood, in any case, to have been well below the club's valuation for a player who scored 20 goals last season.

And Smith said: "We don't want to sell him. I believe there has been a bid but (Swindon manager) Mark Cooper has not spoken to me.

"If they have gone chief executive to chief executive that is up to them. Tom Bradshaw wants to stay at Walsall and showed his intent by signing a new contract.

"As far as I am concerned he is not for sale."

Bradshaw, who scored a hat-trick in Tuesday's 4-3 Capital One Cup win at Nottingham Forest, was on the mark again to put the Saddlers ahead at Southend inside eight minutes.

Sam Mantom then bagged his first in 17 months to put them two up early in the second half and Smith was delighted with their often dominant performance.

He said: "It was very satisfying because I have watched their first two games and they are a good team. Certainly in the first-half, how dominant we were it was a pleasure to watch the players.

"Like good teams do, they come back at you but getting the goal early in the second-half killed the game off. They had a little bit of pressure last five minutes but other than that we were very comfortable.

"Tom led the line well and had good support again. He took his goal well. Sam and Reece Flanagan, with the system we used today, were able to get in the box and support him.

"With Romaine Sawyers too it resulted in chances and goals."