Walsall captain Andy Butler's contract decision expected soon

The Saddlers boss also claimed personal circumstances will be the chief factor influencing the skipper's decision on whether to stay or go. Butler is currently deciding whether to take up an option which will extend his current contract by a further year.

Last year the Saddlers' summer was dominated by the futures of Will Grigg and Febian Brandy, who both ended up rejecting deals to stay with the club.

But Smith does not foresee a similarly drawn-out scenario with Butler and is expecting a quick decision from the 30-year-old.

"Andy Butler's situation won't drag on," said Smith. "I know that for a fact. I know the sort of lad that Andy is and he will be honest one way or another.

"We all hope that he stays and he knows that. He's been pivotal in my teams throughout my tenure here and hopefully that can continue.

"Hopefully he will choose to stay and if he does we know that the base that we've got in our team – with him, Paul Downing, Sam Mantom, Adam Chambers, Romaine Sawyers and a lot of young players who are coming through – is strong in this league."

Butler, who joined the Saddlers in November 2010 and has been captain throughout Smith's tenure as manager, is an immensely popular figure at the club.

Smith confirmed the two held further talks last week and while he believes the skipper would like to stay, admits the player has several things to consider, among them the commute to the Midlands from his home near Doncaster.

But he insisted Butler has no doubts about the ambitions of the club.

"It will be a tough decision for him either way," said Smith. "I believe he would like to stay but he's got to weigh up his options and that will be nothing to do with the ambitions of the football club because he knows how ambitious we are and how we want to finish in the play-offs at least.

"It will be based, I think, on location."

– whether he's ok to still do that (travel down from Yorkshire) and obviously if better offers come along then financial ones as well."