Nicky Devlin: Walsall have a team of leaders

The 23-year-old put pen to paper on a two-year deal at the Banks’s Stadium last week despite interest from a host of clubs in his native Scotland.

Despite his relatively young age, Devlin was captain at former club Ayr United.

And the attacking right-back believes those leadership qualities will be important as he prepares for his first season as a Saddler.

“Every team needs leaders all over the park,” Devlin said.

“Even if you’re not captain you can still be a leader. The more players you have like that more chance the team has of winning games.

“Adam Chambers is captain here and has been for a few years now. I will be looking to follow his example.

“He has been brilliant since I came in. He has gone out of his way to make me feel welcome.

“I know the manager wanted to sign players with those leadership qualities. Players who have that hunger and who really want to win.

“The more leaders you have got it can only be a good thing for the team and the club as a whole.”

Devlin had a number of clubs in Scotland chasing his signature this summer.

But the defender had his heart set on joining Walsall once he had met Jon Whitney.

“Coming to Walsall was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” Devlin continued.

“I think if you ask most boys in Scotland, they want to come down and play in England at some point in their careers.

“I had the opportunity to stay in Scotland. I had an offer from a club in the Scottish Premier League.

“But a League One club in England is a fantastic opportunity for me. There are a lot of big clubs in the division next season.

“But the gaffer has a core of players he believes are good enough to challenging.

“Once I spoke to the manager and he made me the offer I knew this is where I wanted to come and play.”