Whitney working to bolster Walsall squad

The Saddlers are set to host Oxford at the Banks’s Stadium today with a depleted squad following the shock departure of James Wilson to Lincoln.

Alongside the defender, who was announced as an Imps player yesterday, Walsall have also seen loanees Zeli Ismail, Dan Agyei and Shaun Donnellan return to their parent clubs this month.

And while Walsall have snapped up George Dobson, Whitney knows his squad is short of strength-in-depth.

“I am speaking to managers and agents all the time,” he said.

“It sounds as if we repeat ourselves every window but it is the same process. We’ve all got targets but they are also targets for many other clubs as well.

“We’ve got to do what we can to bring the right people in.

“We are trying to bring a couple in over the next week or so. We are looking at both permanent deals and loans.

“And w need some forward players. We have lost Zeli (Ismail) who gave us that width.

“I also need to bring in a striker who is going to score goals.

“It’s not easy because we have our limits. And we’re going to have to keep working because things tend to not happen early in the window.”

Today’s game will also see a group of fans protest against Walsall owner Jeff Bonser.

The supporters, who are set to met outside the Banks’s Stadium, have grown frustrated with issues both on and off the field with many believing the chairman lacks the ambition required to take the club forward.

But Whitney says any protest won’t affect his players who are determined to end the Saddlers five game winless run.

“The players know what is going on because as a club we win and lose together,” the boss added.

“But they know they have to focus on Oxford. The 90 minutes is all they need to worry about.

“I was like that when I played. I didn’t really know what was going on off the pitch. I’m sure my players will be the same.

“We understand what’s going on but we aren’t going to let it affect our performance.”