Bonser backing Bedeau despite Bescot exit

May 17 2007 By Brian Halford, Birmingham Mail

JEFF Bonser today backed Tony Bedeau to hit back from his poor season at Walsall - and thrive elsewhere.

Bedeau has been transfer-listed by the Saddlers having failed to impress in the first year of the two-year deal contract he signed last summer.

The winger arrived at Walsall with great experience from more than a decade at Torquay United.

But he never excelled at Bescot, failing to shrug off early-season injury troubles to start only nine first-team games.

He is not part of manager Richard Money's future plans. But Saddlers chairman Bonser believes Bedeau has plenty more miles left on the clock.

"Tony is a good footballer and I will not be in the least bit surprised to see him go somewhere else and do well," Bonser said.

"Sometimes a move just doesn't work out and this is one of those times. But you don't get more than 300 league games under your belt unless you can play.

"All the time he was with us Tony trained hard and worked hard without complaining. It just didn't happen for him at Walsall.

"But I am sure he will find himself another club and be a success."

Meanwhile, five of Walsall's youngsters have agreed contract extensions. Mannie Smith, Mark Bradley, Troy Deeney, Alex Nicholls and David McDermott have all signed on for another year.

Eight have signed their first one-year pro contract. James McKeown, Peter Doran, Richard Taundry, Netan Sansara, Charlton Davies, Leon Quarless, Chris Hanna and Harry Harris have been rewarded for helping the youth team to a League and Cup double.