Stefan Gamble: Walsall have a bigger budget

Walsall boss Dean Smith can spend his increased budget for next season on transfer fees if he wishes, chief executive Stefan Gamble has confirmed.

The Saddlers supremo revealed Smith has complete control of his transfer war chest for 2015/16 and can use it to pay fees or spend extra cash on wages.

Striker James Constable, who joined from Chippenham Town in January 2006, was the last player Walsall signed for a fee after he was snapped up for £4,000.

Almost a decade has since passed, but Gamble isn't ruling out signing a player for cash this summer.

"Transfer fees will be down to the manager," said. Gamble "There's never been a directive from the board that the manager can't buy players – it all comes out of the same pot. If the manager can pick a player up on a free transfer then pay him a better contract rather than spend it on a fee that would probably be the way to go. But it's down to however the manager wants to approach it – if he wanted to spend a fee, that is not something we have ruled out."

Despite the manager being given a larger budget, Gamble insists it is imperative the club use cash wisely.

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"We will operate within our financial constraints because if the wheels fall off, we don't have wads of cash to fall back on," he said. "We have to be careful about how we approach these things.

"Historically we've always strived to be savvy in the transfer market. Tom Bradshaw is a good example of that. Identifying young talent, bringing them in and adding to their value is vital to us because it's difficult for us to go out there and buy a proven 20-goal-a-season scorer."

Meanwhile, the club have announced tickets are now on sale for the pre-season friendlies against Villa on July 25 and Albion on July 28. Admission is £12 for adults and £6 for concessions.