Money: Young guns will be crucial

May 23 2007 By Brian Halford, Birmingham Mail

WALSALL'S younger guns will get their chance to shine as the club strives to re-establish itself in League One next season.

The Saddlers' hopes of challenging for promotion again next term will hinge heavily on the level of success that manager Richard Money achieves in his summer transfer manoeuvres.

Three or four performers proven at League One level or above are required. But, beyond the main men, squad depth is essential to thrive during a gruelling season - as Walsall discovered last term.

Twenty-year-old Scott Dann emerged as the club's most accomplished defender while, as injuries crowded into the central defensive department late on, 18-year-old Manny Smith stepped in and acquitted himself well in high-pressure games.

Midfielder Mark Bradley looks first-team bound at some stage next season while striker Troy Deeney has emerged almost from nowhere, starting last season with Chelmsley Town and ending it in the Saddlers' senior squad.

Smith, Bradley and Deeney, as well as Alex Nicholls and David McDermott, have been handed contracts for another year.

And Money, who has worked extensively with younger players in his coaching career, notably at Villa and Coventry, will relish trying to mould the youngsters into full first-team products.

"Hopefully, given the right opportunities, this group of young players will play a big part in our squad going forward and I'm looking forward to working with them," the manager said.

"They have all developed extremely well coming through the ranks and they are worthy of another year to see how much more progress they can make."