Chris Hutchings coy on contracts

Walsall boss Chris Hutchings won't hit the panic button despite contract talks with his players dragging on longer than expected.

Negotiations have crept into a sixth week and the Saddlers are waiting on five players to commit before making their move in the transfer market.

Julian Gray, Jamie Vincent, captain Mark Hughes, Darryl Westlake and Rene Gilmartin have yet to sign and the club hope to know their decisions this week.

But Hutchings is relaxed and isn't worried about how long it has taken to tie them down.

He said: "We've all been there and done it, that's how it is. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it, what will be will be.

"We're trying to sort players' contracts out and those who re-sign are all well and good. Those who don't, we can put it down and go through the list we need to replace them.

"It's their prerogative but it's always a testing time, you'd like to be able to settle things down and add a couple to your squad but it's never as easy as that."

Walsall had expected to have the deals done by now, but last week's Football League conference in Malta held work up as chief executive Roy Whalley and financial director Stefan Gamble were away.

Richard Taundry, Alex Nicholls and Will Grigg have already penned new contracts – with Nicholls and Taundry earning two-year deals.

Hutchings believes rewarding them with longer terms is key to the future success of the club.

He said: "That's why we're trying to get players, who we feel have potential, on two year contracts so we have a bit more stability at the end of the season.

"Instead of having 10 or 12 out of contract next year you might only have six up but it's still a testing time when you have that, but that's what happens at a lot of clubs."