Dean Holden ready to fight for Walsall place

The 34-year-old central defender has already signed a new deal to again be player-coach at the Saddlers.

Holden did not play a single minute in League One last term, failing to dislodge the first-choice centre-back pairing of Paul Downing and Andy Butler, before suffering a fractured knee cap in January which prematurely ended his campaign.

But the former Rochdale, Shrewsbury and Chesterfield man insists he is nowhere near ready to hang up his boots and will be back fighting for his place come pre-season.

"I have got myself in tip-top condition and I want to be fit enough to play when the gaffer needs me," he said. "I got myself in great shape for the end of the season and I'll be going into pre-season really fit so I'm ready to fight for my place. The gaffer has signed me as a player-coach so I will be aiming to be in the team for the first game."

Holden's decision to sign his new deal immediately has taken some of the pressure off manager Dean Smith as he hunts replacements for departed skipper Butler. Doubts also remain over whether left-back Andy Taylor will re-sign, while Smith is still to conclude deals for full-backs Ben Purkiss and James Chambers.

Holden, who looks after the development of the club's young professionals, says he had no doubts over immediately accepting the new offer.

"It was an easy decision," he said. "I have not had an agent for a few years and when I signed for the club initially in 2012 I rang the gaffer myself and organised a meeting.

"It was the same this season. I have not picked up the phone or spoke to anybody.

"He offered me the contract and I got it done straight away. It's the place for me at the moment, it's where I want to spend the next part of my career."

Butler, who informed the club last week he would not be accepting a new deal, was reportedly undergoing a medical at Sheffield United yesterday.