Tribunal rules £500,000 compensation for former Saddlers man Will Grigg

A Football League tribunal has now ruled that Brentford must pay the Saddlers an initial compensation of £325,000 after signing the Northern Ireland international striker who was Walsall's top scorer last season.

But a series of clauses were bolted on to the ruling which could see the final figure for Grigg go beyond £500,000.

As well as the initial fee, Walsall are due £30,000 for every 20 competitive first-team game he plays up to a maximum of 100 – bringing the potential for another. £150,000 to land in the club's coffers.

The Bees will also have to pay £50,000 if promotion to the Championship is achieved.

And should they go on to land a Premier League spot during the span of Grigg's contract, another £250,000 will be paid.

The tribunal also gave Saddlers a 20 per cent sell-on clause if Grigg is transferred from Brentford to another club.

It's not the top-dollar claim manager Dean Smith was publicly promoting when Grigg rejected Walsall's overtures to sign a three-year contract in July.

The two clubs could not reach an agreement on compensation after Walsall set Grigg's valuation in the region of £1m.

Grigg, who missed playing against his former club this season because of a hamstring problem, has made a subdued start to his Brentford career scoring two goals in one of his six appearances so far.

Privately, Walsall will be reasonably pleased with the outcome and are likely to use the money towards extending the contracts of valued members of their current squad.

In the summer, James Baxendale was given the rare privilege of a three-year contract while Paul Downing was secured on a two-year deal.

Walsall can now be expected to extend that policy to players such as Sam Mantom and Andy Taylor, who have made such an impressive start to this campaign.