Butler service ends as Dean Smith prepares for life without Walsall skipper Andy

Just hours after discovering he would lose captain Andy Butler, the Walsall boss was his usual upbeat self.

Some may be getting twitchy at a close season which has seen the club's top scorer and inspirational skipper depart in the opening three weeks but the manager appears more confident than ever.

That's because he has faith in the plan, the blueprint laid down two years ago when the club adopted its much vaunted Football Philosophy.

And while the crushingly disappointing end to the season might have been tough to stomach, Smith feels this is no time to go changing tack.

"I have more faith in the plan than ever," he said. "I just look at what we have got left at the club. I think we are in a strong position, I really do.

"I think I have made decisions which are good for myself and the club.

"The only one which has gone against us is Andy, we would have liked him to stop but he hasn't and that is the choice he has made and we will deal with that."

Smith will spend a fair portion of the summer rebuilding the squad, his work increased by Butler's exit. But you never sense the skipper's departure is something he hasn't planned for.

It's a similar tale with the release of 16-goal top scorer Craig Westcarr, which was no snap judgement. Letting go of the only man to hit double figures in a team which struggled to score goals might have raised eyebrows but Smith felt the forward had reached the end of his "shelf-life" at the Banks's and believes he can snare better. Still, at this stage, the rebuild appears a daunting task.

Up front, Smith is looking to bring in three players to join Romaine Sawyers and the relatively untested Amadou Bakayoko in the striking department.

At the back, Butler's exit would appear to leave a gaping hole but the anticipated re-signings of James Chambers and Ben Purkiss – the former excellent whenever asked to play in the middle of defence last season – will provide some instant cover. New pretenders to the Butler mantle will also see competition from the highly-rated Matt Preston.

It leaves Andy Taylor's future as the only other big question – the left-back is currently away – while Smith has also been speaking to potential targets.

As always, those coming in will need to fit the Saddlers mould and anyone expecting a surprise splurging of cash will almost certainly be disappointed.

"It's really important we are very transparent when people come in and we tell them what we are about and what they can expect from us," he added. "You have got to work hard, you have got to be honest and willing to go that step forward. "

"We want to be successful but you need players to want to be successful too."