Walsall FC aim to guard future talent to avoid Will Grigg repeat

So far this season the Saddlers have tied down James Baxendale, Paul Downing and Sam Mantom on long-term contract.

Manager Dean Smith would not be drawn on whether any further deals will be done in the near future, but he believes it is vital they secure the futures of young players in particular, after seeing Grigg leave for Brentford in the summer when his deal expired last summer.

Under the Bosman ruling, a club is entitled to compensation if a player under 24 leaves under such circumstances.

And though the eventual tribunal ruling means the Saddlers could eventually land more than £500,000 for the striker, Smith does not want the scenario to occur again.

"I suppose you look at the under-24s now because of the Bosman ruling," he said. "You have to protect the interests of the club along with those of the players.

"We just had the Will Grigg incident where it goes on and on and on and it ends up going to a tribunal.

"We got a fair price in the end but we don't want that happening again with our young players."

Midfielder Mantom was the latest player to commit his future to the Saddlers after signing a new two-and-a-half year deal.

Assistant boss Richard O'Kelly also penned an extension through to 2016 and Smith believes both deals were both vital and encouraging for the club.

"We have done the two which were two important ones for us," said Smith.

"Sam's contract was up at the end of the season, he is under 24 and he has done really well for us.

"I think his performances merited the award of the contract and I'm pleased he wanted to sign for that length of time because he sees a career pathway and a development pathway here for him.

"That's pleasing and shows we are doing the right things for the players.

"Richard was always an important one for me because we work so well together, we enjoy working together, we challenge each other and it's a good working relationship."