Dean Holden: Walsall will sign the right players

Manager Dean Smith made his second signing of the summer over the weekend when experienced defender James O'Connor penned a one-year deal.

And the Saddlers boss remains hopeful of completing at least one more deal in the coming days.

Walsall had already snapped up highly-rated young keeper Craig MacGillivray before landing O'Connor, who has spent the past four seasons in the Championship with Derby County.

Smith has a significant rebuild on hand after opting to release last season's top scorer Craig Westcarr and then losing influential skipper Andy Butler.

But veteran defender Holden, who has signed as a player-coach for next term, believes the manager and his assistant Richard O'Kelly will bring in players who are right for the club – both in quality and character.

"The ones who come in will be the right ones for Walsall," he said.

"They will be team players. There are no prima donnas, no superstars. If you walk in the doors with the right work ethic and the desire to improve yourself, then you will do really well."

Holden added: "I don't think it is a coincidence that the club has found itself in this position. Obviously Andy Butler leaving was a blow.

"But the gaffer has made decisions on other players. I think him and Rich have sat down and talked.

"I know how they work, having seen them at close quarters over the last 12 months. There is not a Tuesday or Wednesday in the season when they are not up and down the country watching players."

New-boy O'Connor echoed Holden's sentiments when he said: "There is a really positive philosophy here. The set-up is very impressive."