James Chambers aims for play-offs with Walsall

The 32-year-old yesterday signed up for another term at the Banks's after agreeing a new one-year deal.

Chambers played an important role as the Saddlers, tipped by many to be relegated at the start of the campaign, finished ninth in League One.

But far from feeling they defied the odds, Chambers claims many of Dean Smith's side believe they failed to match their potential.

Midfielder Nicky Featherstone has previously stated he feels the Saddlers should have reached the play-offs and Chambers shares that view.

He said: "When you realise the ability there in squad, when you train with these players day in, day out, it should be no surprise we finished where we did.

"The real surprise was the bad run we had earlier in the season which meant we did not fulfil our potential.

"If you look at the ability and the team spirit we probably finished short of where we should have done.

"If you ask a lot of the players, to a man they will say the same thing. The players feel, and probably the manager as well, that we just missed out.

"We were going to Swindon and getting results, beating Coventry and other teams around us, I think that's when you look back you feel you missed out."

Chambers, whose twin brother Adam has signed a new two-year deal, believes the experience of challenging in the top half of the table has increased confidence.

Adam said: "The experience this year will cause us to attack the season differently right from the off.

"Maybe tactically the manager will change things and, added to that, we have the experience of going into games at places like Sheffield United and knowing we can get a result.

"Hopefully, next season we will keep the nucleus of the side. If we have belief in the dressing room, we can win no matter who we are playing."

Meanwhile, former Walsall defender Alex Hickman has joined Stourbridge. The 21-year-old centre-half was released by the Saddlers in 2011.