Dean Smith assembling new Walsall squad

Boss Dean Smith today insisted he is ready to mould his own side as Walsall revealed their contract offers. The Saddlers chief wants to avoid another season of struggle in League One and build his own team 18 months after taking charge. Emmanuel Ledesma, Manny Smith and Mat Sadler have been offered two-year deals while Darryl Westlake, Lee Beevers and David Grof have the chance of one-year contracts. The players must accept or reject the offers by June 19 and Smith said the new-season team will be exclusively his. He said: “Last year we were still left with a lot of players who were under contract for last season. Although there are a number of players I brought in there were some already here. I think from the start of next season you can rightly say this is a team Dean Smith has assembled. “I’m confident in my own ability. Only time will tell but the recruitment is very important.” Goalkeeper Jimmy Walker, the club’s record appearance holder, is in talks about a player/coach role for next season.