Walsall

Walsall
Walsall duo secure new contracts Walsall striker Taiwo Atieno and defender Lee Vaughan have secured new deals to keep them at the club while David Perpetuini has been released. Atieno, 19, has come through the Saddlers ranks and his contract has been extended by a further year. He has been on loan at Rochdale and Chester this season and made three substitute appearances and one start for Walsall. Vaughan has impressed this term after arriving on a non-contract basis.

Walsall weigh in for Gerrard
Walsall have signed Anthony Gerrard, 18, after he was released by Everton. The defender, the cousin of England international Steven Gerrard, put pen to paper on a two-year deal having impressed during a loan spell. "This is a massive signing for us," manager Paul Merson told the club's official website. "Anthony was outstanding for us at the end of the season and one of my top priorities was to get him back here on a more long-term basis."

Walsall release defender Willetts
Walsall have released 20-year-old right-back Ryan Willetts. Willetts progressed through the youth ranks at the Bescot Stadium to earn his first professional Saddlers contract before the start of last season. But his efforts to impress were curtailed by injuries and he made only one appearance - at Sheffield Wednesday in the Carling Cup last August. Boss Paul Merson is reshaping his squad to build on their fine form at the back end of their League Two campaign.

Defender Pead seals Walsall move
Coventry defender Craig Pead has secured a two-year contract with League One Walsall. The 23-year-old arrived at the Bescot Stadium on loan from Coventry in March and helped the Saddlers enjoy a strong end to the season. "I am delighted to have signed for the club," Pead told the club's website. "I thoroughly enjoyed my time here at the end of the season and wanted to make the move permanent. Hopefully we can maintain our standards."

Bantams boss rejects Wrack link
Bradford boss Colin Todd has rejected reports linking them with a move for Walsall winger Darren Wrack. The news came after Todd expressed his anger at missing out on Brentford winger Stephen Hunt, who decided to join Reading instead of the Bantams. Wrack, 29, has made over 300 senior appearances since joining the Saddlers from Grimsby in 1998, having begun his career as a trainee at Derby. He scored seven goals in 43 league starts last season.

Broad keen to establish himself
Walsall midfielder Joe Broad, 22, is determined to make his mark at the club next season. "I feel I did reasonably well when my chances came along last season, but I know I can do more," Broad told the club's official website. "Walsall supporters haven't really seen what I can do yet - next season I intend to change that. "It is up to me when my first chance comes next season to force myself into the side week in, week out."

Saddlers to help Sporting Khalsa
Walsall will help local side Sporting Khalsa celebrate becoming the first semi-professional Asian club in the country to own their own ground. Sporting Khalsa have been promoted to Division One of the West Midlands Regional League for the 2005/06 season. The club have bought the lease to Abbey Park, previously the home of Bloxwich Town who have now folded. A Saddlers XI will visit on Friday, 15 July for a game also being backed by the "Kick It Out" anti-racism campaign. "We were more than happy to offer our support," Walsall first team coach Mick Halsall told his club's website. "This is an important event, not only in local non-League circles but nationally as well, and I am expecting a tough test for our boys."

Winger Wrack rewarded by Walsall
Walsall winger Darren Wrack has signed a new three-year deal with the club. Wrack, 29, has made over 300 senior appearances since joining the Saddlers from Grimsby in 1998, having begun his career as a trainee at Derby. "I have done a lot of thinking this summer," said Wrack, who earlier this summer had been linked with Bradford. "I'm delighted to be staying. I will play wherever the gaffer wants me to and hopefully have an impact," Wrack told the Walsall website.

Walsall waiting for Surnam deal
Walsall are waiting to hear whether they will be allowed to sign Andrew Surman on loan from Southampton. The Birmingham Evening Mail reports that the move depends on whether Saints base their Championship campaign around a youthful or experienced squad. Saints chairman Rupert Lowe favours a young squad as he looks to cut costs following relegation but boss Harry Redknapp prefers experienced players. Surman, 18, joined the Saddlers on loan in January until the end of the season.

Merson boosted by Wrack agreement
Walsall boss Paul Merson hailed Darren Wrack's signing of a new contract as "a massive bonus." Wrack, 28, took a pay-cut on his three-year deal but will be awarded a testimonial in 2007. Merson told the Birmingham Post: "I feared we would lose Darren, we couldn't afford to offer him what he had been on. "But he loves the club, this is a real boost to us because when he's fit his name is first on the team sheet."

Walsall confirm Westwood capture
Walsall have confirmed that Hartlepool United defender Chris Westwood will be joining them. Westwood will officially join the Saddlers on July 1 when his contract with Hartlepool expires. The 28-year-old central defender rejected an offer by Hartlepool to extend his contract in order to move to a club nearer his midlands home. Former Wolves defender Westwood made almost 300 appearances for Pools in a six-year stint at Victoria Park.

Sky Blues planning Staunton talks
Coventry boss Micky Adams is planning showdown talks with veteran defender Steve Staunton - who has failed to report for pre-season training. The 36-year-old has been linked with a move to League One side Walsall, who have offered him a player-coach role. Adams said: "I am very disappointed Stan has not turned in and I would like to find out the reason why." "Where do we go from here? That is something I need to speak to the player about before speaking to the press." Meanwhile, the Sky Blues have agreed terms with out-of-contract Crewe keeper Clayton Ince and striker James Scowcroft, who has been released by Leicester, reports BBC WM. Ince, 32, has signed a two-year deal, while Scowcroft, 29, is set to sign a three-year contract, subject to the player passing a medical. City have also taken ex-Nottingham Forest midfielder Darryl Powell on trial. Also hoping to earn deals are former QPR goalkeeper Chris Day and defender Paul Watson, who played under Adams at Brighton but was released by the Seagulls this summer.

Carlisle sign Spaniard Aranalde
Carlisle have signed Walsall left-back Zigor Aranalde on a two-year contract. The 32-year-old Spaniard was on loan at Sheffield Wednesday towards the end of last term and the move to Brunton Park ends a four-year spell at Wallsall. "I'm delighted to sign him - he's a quality player," Carlisle manager Paul Simpson told the club's website. "It's a very difficult position to fill, but he's had four good years with Walsall and I'm sure he'll be effective for us as well."

Staunton heads for Coventry exit
Coventry boss Micky Adams has confirmed that defender Steve Staunton has played his last game for the Sky Blues. Nine of the 10 out-of-contract players at Coventry have agreed new terms but the 36-year-old Irishman failed to turn up to pre-season training. Adams said: "We were disappointed Steve didn't come back to us but these things happen. He's a great professional and we wish him well for the future." Captain Stephen Hughes added: "I'll miss him because he's a fellow moaner." Staunton has been linked with a move to Walsall. Meanwhile, the Sky Blues have agreed terms with out-of-contract Crewe keeper Clayton Ince and striker James Scowcroft, who has been released by Leicester, reports BBC WM. Ince, 32, has signed a two-year deal, while Scowcroft, 29, is set to sign a three-year contract, subject to the player passing a medical.

Walker set for road to recovery
West Ham goalkeeper Jimmy Walker is to have an operation next week on the knee injury he suffered in the play-off final win over Preston in May. The 31-year-old fell awkwardly towards the end of the game and was stretchered off with cruciate ligament damage. "It's a cruciate operation, but it's only one and I'm hopeful that it will go well," he told the club website. "After that it's just be a case of going through the rehabilitation and waiting for the knee to heal." Walker replaced Steven Bywater as the regular first-choice keeper towards the end of last season, and he now faces competition from newly signed former Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll when he returns to fitness. "It's difficult to put a timescale on it, we'll just have to wait and see after the operation," he said. "I'm hopeful that it won't be too long, though."

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