Scott Laird: Walsall's future is bright

The popular defender, who joined the Saddlers on loan from Scunthorpe last season, became a firm fans favourite after impressing in 32 appearances for the club.

Now back with the Iron, Laird is unsure where he will be playing his football next season.

But whether he returns to the Banks's Stadium or not, the full-back believes Walsall can compete for a place in the top six next year.

"I think there is a really strong nucleus in place and some really talented youngsters," Laird said.

"I would like them to re-sign Dobbo (George Dobson).

"Nobody saw the best of Dobbo but I saw him every day in training and he is going to be one hell of a player and one hell of a midfielder.

"If he can play more regularly I think he will be a massive player.

"Then you have got Kieron Morris. He is one talented boy. He needs to add more goals. He knows that and I have told him that.

"But he will do. He is a real threat and from talking to players at other teams, they are always worried about Kieron and what he can do.

"I thought Eoghan O'Connell was brilliant as well. It would be great if Walsall could get him back.

"And then you have got the young boys."

When it comes to Walsall's rising stars, Laird was particularly impressed with Kory Roberts, Tobias Hayles-Docherty and Mitch Candlin.

"I thought Kory was magnificent," the former Preston man continued. "He won’t mind me saying that when I first trained with Kory he was quiet timid.

"But the progress I saw him make before his debut at Oxford was remarkable. He was a totally different player. He has thrived.

"Tobias is also an exciting player. A really dynamic winger.

"And then there is Mitch. He is 16-years-old and a proper old school centre-forward – he even wears black boots!

"But he is very clever. When he came into training I remember thinking ‘I’m going to test this lad and see what he's got.’

"But he rolled me and scored a couple of goals. He has really got something about him."

Despite ultimately finishing 14th in League One, Laird believes the Saddlers were closer to finishing in the play-offs than the table suggests.

And he believes there was one week in particular that defined the campaign.

"We were very close," Laird said.

"Everyone was pulling in the right direction and we had that week where we played Charlton, Fleetwood and Southend.

"We should have won at Charlton. We were 1-0 up and in control but let it slip and ended up drawing.

"I think if we'd held on we would've then drawn against Fleetwood. That would have taken us into Southend where we were 2-0 up.

"I believe if we got the two results before we would have had the belief and confidence to hold on and we would have been in the play-offs.

"That week was the defining week. It could have been so different but that is football."

Laird believes the squad and boss Whitney will have learnt a lot from last season.

"It's a young squad and last year will prove a great learning curve," he said. "As a team they can absolutely have success next year.

"The gaffer is very young in his managerial career. He is still learning. But last summer he had to rebuild a team and before that week in March we were in the mix.

"With all the upheaval Walsall had last summer I think he has done a remarkable job.

"He will add a few players and I’m sure if he recruits the right way then they will have another go.

"I was just gutted we couldn’t do it this year because it would have been great to follow in the success of the Walsall team that finished third the year before. It would have been great to carry that on."

Laird celebrated his 29th birthday on Monday as well as receiving a surprise visit from Jason McCarthy, the defender was also inundated with good will messages from Walsall fans.

So why does he think he has struck up such a good rapport with Saddlers fans?

"I think the fact I love life, I love training, I love playing games – I think the Walsall fans really took to that," Laird added.

"I love to interact with people, that is just my personality.

"Walsall Football Club is a great place to be. There are no egos. All the lads in the dressing room are great lads.

In football generally, the gap between clubs and fans is getting too big now.

"I think it’s great at Walsall that after games the players go up to the bar and meet fans and sign autographs. I think that is lovely. It’s so important to keep that connection."