Walsall boss Dean Smith eyes transfer funds from Saddlers' FA Cup run

Walsall boss Dean Smith today targeted FA Cup cash as the manager looked to the January sales.

The Saddlers chief wants his men to end their Cup hoodoo and boost his funds to help their League One survival bid.

They host Dagenham in a second round replay tonight bidding to reach the third round, and a home tie with Millwall, for the first time since 2008.

Smith is still after reinforcements and insisted a long-awaited Cup run would allow him to spend more.

He said: "We've been looking at players for the last two or three months and we'll have to see in January. Hopefully we can get a Cup run and they'll be more funds available so we can make some moves in the window.

"We missed out on a couple of players when the loan window closed so there are certainly players we're looking to bring in.

"People want to progress in the FA Cup because there are financial implications to it and it'll be no different tonight – Dagenham will be coming to us to try to win the game."

The Saddlers boss also confirmed he had Stourbridge striker Ryan Rowe scouted during the Glassboys' run to the FA Cup second round.

The 23-year-old has struck 13 times this term, including a stunning lob in Stourbridge's 3-3 first-round draw at Plymouth.

Smith said: "I had him watched in the second or third qualifying round and he has been on the radar, as have others we're keeping tabs on.

"He did OK but it's tough to judge, because you also have to judge the level as well.

"The problem with non-league players is they cost money. As soon as someone is interested, they think you have got lots of money to play with.

"That's why you end up loaning from clubs where you don't have to pay for them – you just take on the wages."

Dagenham slipped to the foot of the Football League with a 2-1 defeat at Port Vale on Saturday but Smith warned his men of the League Two basement boys' threat.

He said: "The players know all about them, I never felt we were going to lose the game at their place but they put us under pressure.

"It's a win or lose situation and they will have that underdog tag we had on Saturday.

"I think everybody's really looking forward to the Cup clash and, hopefully, a cup run."